Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s basketball team was all but certain its season was over last week, so what an incredible surprise it was to hear its name announced on Wednesday’s selection show as it received a bid to the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Wells Fargo.
#8 seed William Penn (18-13) will take on #1 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) (31-1) in the Duer Bracket next Thursday, March 16 at 12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time). The full bracket can be found at http://www.naia.org/fls/27900/1NAIA/SportsInfo/Championships/2017DIWBB/2017DIWBBBracket.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=27900
The WPU/L-CSC winner will then face the winner of the #4 seed Wayland Baptist (Texas)/#5 seed Bethel (Tenn.) contest on Friday at 6:15 p.m.
The Championship will take place at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Mont. from March 15-21.
The 30th-ranked Statesmen, members of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, earned the second-to-last at-large bid (17 total), while the #2 Warriors, members of the Frontier Conference, earned an automatic bid as the league’s regular season and tournament champion. This will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
All of William Penn’s games at the Championships will be broadcast by the No Coast Network on KBOE/KMZN radio. More info will become available in the upcoming days.
Game tickets can be purchased by going to http://www.metrapark.com/events/2017/naia-women%E2%80%99s-division-i-national-championships?DB_OEM_ID=27900
William Penn
Willie Scott, in his second season (32-30 record entering nationals), is leading the Statesmen to their first NAIA Nationals appearance and first postseason trip since 1988 (NCAA Division III).
William Penn is led by first-team all-conference performer Alyssa Phillips (Sr., Gurnee, Ill., Communications), who is averaging 13.3 points and 8.2 rebounds. Honorable-mention selection Vashti Nwagbaraocha (So., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) (10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds) has also helped guide her team.
The Statesmen are outscoring opponents 72.5-68.7 and outrebounding them 40.4-39.9. WPU is also a bit better from the field with a 39.6%-38.6% edge. They shoot 65.3% from the line and 30.6% from behind the arc. William Penn ranks sixth in the NAIA in total steals with 367.
The Statesmen posted a four-game winning streak earlier this year and had won three straight prior to their loss in the Heart quarterfinals.
Lewis-Clark State
Brian Orr, in his 16th season (401-127 record), will be taking the Warriors back to nationals for the fourth year in a row (14th time in his tenure) and 20th time in school history (20-19 all-time record).
L-CSC, which was 17-1 in Frontier play, has won eight-straight games entering nationals. Caelyn Orlandi leads the Warriors as the league’s Player of the Year, averaging 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists. Brittany Tackett (13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds) joined her on the first team, while Brooke Litalien (9.2 points) collected an honorable-mention nod as well. Coach Orr was also chosen as the Frontier’s Coach of the Year.
The Warriors have outscored their foes 78.7-56.9 and outrebounded them 39.3-34.2. They are also better from the field with a margin of 47.5%-35.7%. Lewis-Clark State is shooting 76.1% at the line and 36.1% from deep as well.
The squad ranks in the top 10 nationally in numerous categories, including being first in assist/turnover ratio at 1.7. The Warriors are also third in field-goal percentage and assists (552), fifth in free-throw percentage, sixth in total points, seventh in both scoring margin (+21.8) and turnover margin (+5.1), and ninth in both three-point percentage and scoring average.
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 14 at 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel and Convention Center.
All other information is also available at http://www.naia.org/SportSelect.dbml?&&&&DB_OEM_ID=27900&SPID=100499&SPSID=646952
