Lady Elks Close Out Season

VALLEJO, Calif. — The Stanton University Lady Elks saw their landmark first season in the NAIA come to a close on Sunday, falling 80-64 to the #1 seed Simpson University Red Hawks in the California Pacific Conference Championship semifinals. The game, held at the PE & Aquatics Center, marked the end of a deep postseason run for the first-year program.

Young Leads Stanton in Final Outing

Center Najharae Young punctuated her standout season with another high-volume performance. Young led the Lady Elks with 21 points and 18 rebounds, recording yet another double-double. She also contributed 2 blocks and 2 steals while playing 30 minutes. Her interior presence kept Stanton within striking distance for much of the afternoon, as she accounted for nearly half of the team's total rebounds.

Supporting Contributions

Several other Lady Elks provided key scoring and defensive minutes in the semifinal matchup:

• Sophia Laurel: Played the full 40 minutes, scoring 17 points fueled by four 3-pointers.

• Teagan Cohen: Finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

• Estela Sancho: Tallied 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes off the bench.

Game Summary

Stanton started strong, leading 19-14 after the first quarter. However, Simpson's offensive depth proved difficult to contain in the middle periods. The Red Hawks outscored the Lady Elks 23-13 in the second quarter and 19-9 in the fourth to secure the win. Stanton shot 39% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc, but 17 turnovers and a 47.8% mark from the free-throw line hampered their comeback efforts.

A Message of Gratitude

As this inaugural season concludes, the Lady Elks program extends a heartfelt thank you to the players for their tenacity and for setting the standard for Stanton University basketball. To the families and friends who supported the team throughout this journey—from the home openers in Anaheim to the postseason in Vallejo—your presence and encouragement were vital to the team's success.

Reaching the Cal Pac semifinals in year one is a testament to the foundation built this season. The Lady Elks have officially arrived in the NAIA, and the future of the program is bright.