WINONA LAKE, Ind. - CIU women's basketball wrapped up their 2022-2023 season on Friday as they took on Houghton University (N.Y.) in the 2023 NCCAA DI Women's Basketball National Championship seventh-place game. It was the first all-time meeting between the Rams and Highlanders, who hail from the NCAA DIII ranks. CIU would end up coming short 63-56 but still finished the season with the most wins in program history at 18. 

Friday's contest was back-and-forth, but the Highlanders did hold a 17-14 advantage after one. The Rams battled back in the second period to lead by as much as five (28-23) on a Madison Hatcher triple and carried a 30-25 lead into halftime. 

Neither team could pull away in the third, but CIU surged in front 44-43 on a Mariah Leinbach jumper in the final second of the quarter. 

Unfortunately, shots just did not fall four CIU in the final period, as they were held to just 12 fourth-quarter points and were upended by the Highlanders by seven. 

Hannah Wilkerson played an important role in her final game as a freshman scoring 16 points to go along with eight rebounds. The Rams had three other players in double figures, Tearra Cook (14) and Hatcher (11). Leinbach was three points shy of a double-double with seven points and 12 boards.

What Coach Danielle Fleming is saying: "Didn't end the year how we wanted, but this week doesn't negate everything this team has done this season! So very proud of them and extremely grateful for five-year players Queeneka Howard and Hannah Trawick and everything they have contributed to this program. The foundation has been laid, and everyone is bought in to take it to the next level! 18 wins is something that we all are proud of, and it's something no one can take away!"