#6 Seed Statesmen to Meet Carroll in Opening Round
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s basketball team once again drew a squad from the Rocky Mountains as it returns to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Wells Fargo.
#6 seed WPU (23-8) will meet #3 seed Carroll (Mont.) (24-7) in the Naismith Bracket next Thursday, March 15 at 9 p.m. (Central). Last year, the Statesmen faced fellow Frontier Conference foe Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in the first round, falling 59-45.
The WPU/CC winner will then face the winner of the #2 seed Vanguard (Calif.)/#7 seed Bethel (Tenn.) contest on Friday at 9:45 p.m.
The full bracket is at http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2018_DIWBB/2018DIWBBBracket.pdf?&SPSID=646952&SPID=100499&DB_OEM_ID=27900
The Championship will take place at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Mont. from March 14-20.
The 24th-ranked Statesmen (first time ranked in top 25 this season), members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, earned one of the league’s two automatic berths by finishing second in both the regular season and tournament. The #9 Saints earned an automatic bid as the league’s regular season and tournament champions. This will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
All of William Penn’s games at the Championships will be broadcast on KMZN 99.5 FM.
Fans can pay to watch the games online as well through the NAIA Network at http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205423392&utm_medium=Email%20&utm_source=NAIANetworkEmail_Week1&utm_campaign=NAIANetworkEmailWeek1
The per-day option costs $9.95, while the entire tournament (through the semifinals) can be purchased for $34.95. The championship game will be broadcast solely on the internet on the ESPN3 website.
Game tickets can be purchased at http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?SPSID=640721&SPID=96231&DB_OEM_ID=27900&orgid=47569&agency=METRA_PARK&schedule=list&group_id=706487
William Penn
Steve Williamson, in his first season, is leading the Statesmen to their second-straight NAIA Nationals appearance (seventh all-time between NAIA and NCAA Division III).
William Penn is led by first-team all-conference performer Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) who is averaging 16.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Second-teamer Kate Ylitalo (So., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) (12.1 points) and honorable mentions Sarah Hansen (Sr., Kewanee, Ill., Psychology) (15.3 points) and Jenna Santi (Jr., Oak Creek, Wis., Sports Management) (6.5 points and 5.6 assists) are also guiding the Statesmen into nationals.
WPU is outscoring opponents 68.9-58.3 and outrebounding them 37.9-32.2. WPU is also better from the field with a 42.1%-37.7% edge (37.9%-29.3% 3-PT). The navy and gold shoot 66.0% from the line. William Penn ranks fifth in the NAIA in three-point percentage at 37.9% and 10th with 32.2 defensive rebounds per game.
The Statesmen posted an eight-game winning streak earlier this year.
Carroll
Rachelle Sayers, in her sixth season (130-83 record), will be taking the Saints to nationals for the fourth time in her tenure. It is the program’s ninth appearance all-time.
CC, which was 14-4 in Frontier play, has won nine out of its last 10 games entering nationals. Hannah Dean leads the Saints as a first-team all-conference player, averaging 12.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Bailey Pasta (10.3 points) and Michaela Dowdy (8.3 points) were second-teamers as well, while Taylor Salonen (5.0 points) was the Frontier’s Sixth Player of the Year. Coach Sayers was also chosen as the Frontier’s Coach of the Year.
The Saints are quite familiar to low-scoring affairs, having outscored their foes 60.0-52.2, while outrebounding them 35.6-30.8. They are also better from the field with a margin of 40.8-36.6%. Carroll is shooting 70.0% at the line and 33.0% from deep as well.
The squad is second nationally in defensive rebounds (30.8), fourth in points allowed, and 10th in both blocks per game (4.3) and total blocks (132).
Additional Tournament Information
Numerous hotels are available in Billings. A full list can be found at http://www.visitbillings.com/stay/region/alpha
A Tip-Off event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13 at 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center.
All other information is also available at http://www.naiatournament.com/?SPSID=640721&SPID=96231&DB_OEM_ID=27900
