By: Sam Knehans, Communications & Sports Information Intern

FRANKFORT, Ky.  – (Box Score) No. 4 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) earned its first-ever national championship victory, cruising past No. 5 Hope International (Calif.), 97-64. The 33-point margin of victory is the second-largest of the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship thus far, one point behind No. 1 Freed-Hardeman’s (Tenn.) 34-point win over No. 6 Huston-Tillotson (Texas).

The Pioneers, who are appearing in their third-straight national championship in head coach Jon Lewis’ third year at the helm, battled with the Royals until taking a definitive lead with 5:33 to go in the first half. After heading to the locker room with an eight point at the half, the Pioneers never faltered, extending their lead to as many as 34 points en route to a 33-point victory.

The story of the game was poor shooting for Hope International, who hit just 20-of-73 shots from the floor (27.4 percent) and 7-of-30 attempts from 3-point range (23.3 percent). On the other hand, MidAmerica Nazarene made 54.7 percent of its shots from the floor and won the battle of the boards (54-38).

Kelsey Balcom, a Heart of America Athletic Conference first team selection, saw just 11 minutes of action, but her teammates picked up the slack with five Pioneers scoring in double-figures. Andrina Rendon, a Golden State Athletic Conference first team choice, led the way for the Royals with 17 points.

MidAmerica Nazarene (28-3) advances to its first-ever second round and will face the winner of No. 1 Westminster (Utah) and No. 8 William Woods (Mo.) at 6:15 p.m. EDT Friday. 

With the loss, Hope International is eliminated from its first-ever national championship in the first round and ends the season with a 23-10 record.