NAIA Opening Rd. presented by Ballogy Game Day - March 11-12, 2022

Two more steps.

Three teams take to the floor of Allee Gymnasium and the RosenVerdoorn Sports Center this weekend, hoping to achieve that goal and find themselves at the 2022 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Round of 16 at the Tyson Center minutes across town.

All four schools are part of the Naismith Quadrant of the national championship bracket. Second-seeded Morningside University, making its 20th straight championship appearance, is the host school and regular-season champions and postseason tournament runners-up in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Texas Wesleyan University is the quadrant’s seventh seed. The Rams finished third in the Sooner Athletic Conference and earned an at-large bid which was the program’s first since 2011. The University of Saint Francis of Illinois, a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member, brings in the No. 10 seed. The Fighting Saints were regular-season runners-up and tournament champions in the CCAC. USF is making its seventh straight national tournament appearance. Iowa Wesleyan University was the regular-season and postseason tournament champion from the Continental Athletic Conference. They are in their first year as part of the NAIA. MORNINGSIDE: The Mustangs, en route to a second straight Great Plains Athletic Conference championship, have turned in a 27-5 record. Head coach Jamie Sale’s program has been tough on its home floor of late, winning 40 of the last 44 contests played in Allee Gymnasium.

Storylines for the 2021-22 squad have been plentiful, with a lions’ share coming from senior guard Sierra Mitchell. The all-time all-collegiate divisions three-point shooting leader (516), the four-time first-team all-conference selection recently went over the 2500-point career mark and enters the weekend at 2,595, which has been aided by a current string of 14 straight double-figure scoring outings. Mitchell is one of four individuals averaging double-digit scoring, as senior forward Sophia Peppers (14.7 ppg), sophomore center Chloe Lofstrom (12.5 ppg), and senior forward Taylor Rodenburgh (11.7 ppg) are in similar territory. Lofstrom, Peppers, and Rodenburgh haven’t made things easy on the glass for the opposition collecting a combined 19.3 rebounds per outing.

TEXAS WESLEYAN: The Rams finished third place in the SAC regular season and runner-up in the tournament.

They had a record of 25-6 this season, which is the most wins for the program since 2011 and the third-most wins in a season in program history. After a one-win season last year, TWU firstyear head coach Brenita Jackson has turned things around quickly.

Texas Wesleyan recorded a 17-5 record in Sooner Athletic Conference play and a 14-3 record at home. Zarria Carter was named Freshman of the Year in the SAC and third-team all-conference. Kertisa Amos was named Newcomer of the Year, first-team All-SAC, and to the AllDefensive team.

The Rams average 80 points per game on offense and only give up 63 points per game. Texas Wesleyan averages 44 rebounds per game, 13.9 assists, 10.7 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game.

UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (ILL.): The 2021-22 season can be summed up in one word: Resilient. After starting the campaign with 13 rostered players, the Saints are down to just eight healthy bodies. They have done nothing but win through it all, entering the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round with a season-high 13-game winning streak, a 26-6 overall record, and the program’s second conference tournament title in the past three years. The latter came by upsetting NAIA No. 18 Saint Xavier 88-68 on the road.

All-conference selections are led by Jordan Pyle, Andriana Acosta, and Justene Charlesworth. Pyle, a 2021 honorable mention NAIA AllAmerican pick, became the second Saint in the past three seasons to earn CCAC Player of the Year commendations. A third team NAIA AllAmerican in 2020-21, Acosta is a member of an elite St. Francis group, having produced both 1,000-plus points and rebounds. Charlesworth is also a history maker boasting the most three-pointers made in a single season.

IOWA WESLEYAN: In head coach Steve Williamson’s first year back at Iowa Wesleyan, he has led the women’s basketball program to a 19-5 overall record and an 11-0 record in conference play in the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC).

With a team of seven strong, the Tigers blew by their competition in the CAC Conference Championships, defeating Haskell Indian Nations University by 25 points in the conference championship. The Tigers are averaging 71.8 points per game due to shooting 42.4 percent from the field. They are hitting 76.8 percent from the foul line while averaging 34.8 rebounds and 12.8 assists per game.

Williamson was named CAC Coach of the Year and was joined by several players who were also given CAC honors. Kyla Moore was named to the All-Tournament team and the CAC Player of the Year, Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and 1st-Team All-Conference.

Brittany West was named Most Outstanding Player of the Conference Tournament, Newcomer of the Year, and 1st-Team All-Conference.

Breanna Wendland was named 1st-Team All-Conference and as part of the All-Tournament team, and Maci Kuchta was also named to the All-Tournament team.

SCHEDULE Friday, March 11 4 p.m.

6 p.m.

Texas Wesleyan vs. St. Francis (Ill.) Morningside vs. Iowa Wesleyan

Saturday, March 12 3 p.m.

Opening-round championship game Winner advances to Tyson Center in Sioux City for Round of 16

#7 Texas Wesleyan (25-6) #2 Morningside University (27-5) 2 4 11 12 14 15 23 24 25 30 33 40 44

Olivia Boudreau Sierra Mitchell Madison Clayton McKenna Sims Abbe Morten Lauren Hedlund Taylor Rodenburgh Aspen Jansa Sophia Peppers Alexis Spier Hannah Harris Sadie Roth Chloe Lofstrom

G G G G G G G F F G G F/C F/C

So. Sr. Sr. Jr. So. So. Sr. Sr. Sr. So. So. Jr. So.

5-9 5-7 5-8 5-8 5-8 5-7 5-9 5-8 5-11 5-7 5-8 6-0 6-0

Papillion, Neb. Pleasant, Hill, Iowa Sioux City, Iowa South Sioux City, Neb. Hartington, Neb. Albion, Neb. Hawarden, Iowa Wahoo, Neb. Exira, Iowa Gretna, Neb. Homer, Neb. Sioux Falls, S.D. Armstrong, Iowa

Head coach: Jamie Sale Assistant coaches: Jill Bodammer, Jordyn Wollenburg, Denny Lokken, Bryan Alfredson Nov 05 Nov 06 Nov 10VS Nov 13 Nov 17 Nov 20 Nov 23 Dec 01 Dec 04 Dec 08 Dec 11 Dec 18 Dec 28 Dec 29 Jan 1 Jan 05 Jan 08 Jan 12 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 22 Jan 26 Jan 29 Feb 02 Feb 05 Feb 11 Feb 12 Feb 16 Feb 19 Feb 23 Feb 26 Mar 01

Saint Xavier Olivet Nazarene MidAmerica Nazarene Dakota Wesleyan Dordt Bellevue Doane Concordia Mount Marty Briar Cliff Northwestern UPR – Bayamon Grand View Presentation Jamestown College of Saint Mary Midland Hastings Doane Concordia Mount Marty Northwestern College of Saint Mar Dordt Briar Cliff Jamestown Hastings Dakota Wesleyan Midland Hastings Northwestern Dakota Wesleyan

L, 77-63 L, 106-97 W, 84-64 W, 73-63 W, 83-64 W, 91-45 W, 91-68 W, 89-83 W, 80-42 W, 71-68 L, 78-77 W, 65-54 W, 79-66 W, 2-0 W, 78-73 W, 78-58 W, 95-59 W, 82-77 W, 101-69 W, 68-62 W, 84-48 W, 81-63 W, 64-60 L, 85-73 W, 75-69 W, 80-59 W, 69-38 W, 80-74 W, 90-72 W, 98-84 W, 73-72 L, 83-60

0 1 2 3 4 5 10 14 15 22 24 25 33

Zarria Carter Maliah LaCour Hailee Walls Na’Teiona Cole Ariell Warren QuinNae Love Makayla Coy Mary Nyakundi Evie Whorley Kertisa Amos Tianna Tullis Lindsey Thorpe Madison Horak Lataviah Miller Jacqueline Mitchell

F/C F G G G PG F G G G G/F F F/C F F

6-1 5-8 5-7 5-4 5-4 5-3 5-10 5-8 5-5 5-9 5-7 5-10 6-3 5-8 5-9

Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. So.

Mansfield, Tex. Frisco, Tex. Arlington, Tex. Fort Worth, Tex. Red Oak, Tex Tulsa, Okla.

Pflugerville, Tex. Wylie, Tex. Fort Worth, Tex. Burleson, Tex. San Antonio, Tex. Boyd, Tex. Haslet, Tex. Lubbock, Tex. Denver, Colo.

Head coach: Brenita Jackson Assistant coaches: Kevin Jackson, Jazmin Nelson, Shanice Veasley, Morgan Cessop, Amethyst Penrice Nov 3 Nov 9 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 21 Nov 23 Nov 27 Dec 2 Dec 4 Dec 8 Dec 15 Jan 1 Jan 3 Jan 6 Jan 8 Jan 13 Jan 15 Jan 20 Jan 22 Jan 27 Jan 29 Jan 31 Feb 7 Feb 10 Feb 12 Feb 15 Feb 17 Feb 19 Feb 25 Feb 28 Mar 1

Texas College LSU-Shreveport Huston Tillotson Southwestern Assemblies of God UNT-Dallas Huston Tillotson Arlington Baptist Mid-America Christian (Okla.)

Southwestern Christian Our Lady of the Lake University of Science and Arts (Okla.)

Langston Central Christian College (Kan.) Oklahoma Panhandle State Wayland Baptist Oklahoma City University John Brown University (Ark.) Southwestern Assemblies of God UNT-Dallas Mid-America Christian (Okla.)

Southwestern Christian University of Science and Arts (Okla.)

Langston Wayland Baptist Oklahoma Panhandle State Central Christian College (Kan.) Oklahoma City University John Brown University (Ark.) John Brown University (Ark.) Mid-America Christian (Okla.)

Wayland Baptist

W 87-65 W 68-64 W 91-51 W 95-58 W 94-49 W 58-49 W 103-44 L 73-78 W 91-69 W 83-65 W 73-61 W 88-49 W 82-46 W 2-0 L 80-88 W 2-0 W 74-72 W 87-74 W 74-56 L 92-101 W 65-57 W 67-58 L 61-71 L 70-77 W 89-41 W 102-58 W 76-66 W 91-61 W 61-58 W 74-55 L 71-85

#10 St. Francis (Ill.) (26-6)

#15 Iowa Wesleyan (19-5)

0 Carleen Jones G 5-6 Sr. Chicago, Ill. 2 Kalyn Sias-Chaney G 5-4 Sr. Milwaukee, Wis. 3 Braxtin Mickens G 5-6 So. Indianapolis, Ind. 4 Kaeli Ford F 5-9 Jr. Lockport, Ill. 10 Amari Sims G 5-8 Sr. Tinley Park, Ill. 12 Josie Graffeo G/F 5-10 Jr. Manteno, Ill. 14 Shadrian McDaniel G/F 5-9 Sr. Chicago, Ill. 21 Andriana Acosta F 5-9 Sr. Crest Hill, Ill. 23 Justene Charlesworth G 5-8 Sr. Wanatah, Ind. 24 Hannah Swiatek G 5-8 Jr. Oak Lawn, Ill. 25 Jorja Bolton G 5-7 Fr. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia 33 Jordan Pyle F 5-11 Sr. Traralgon, Australia 35 Maria Cruz Uceda C 6-1 Sr. Madrid, Spain

3 4 10 12 15 24 34

Head coach: John McGinty Oct 29 Nov 3 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 10 Nov 13 Nov 17 Nov 20 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 28 Dec 1 Dec 4 Dec 7 Dec 9 Dec 11 Dec 20 Dec 21 Jan 5 Jan 8 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 22 Jan 25 Jan 26 Jan 29 Feb 3 Feb 5 Feb 9 Feb 16 Feb 19 Feb 22 Feb 24 Feb 26

Judson IU-South Bend Marian (Ind.) University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) Trinity International Trinity Christian College Clarke Roosevelt Loyola University-Chicago Mount Mercy IU-Northwest Lincoln College Lewis University Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) Holy Cross College (Ind.) University of Providence (Mont.)

Vanguard University (Calif.)

Olivet Nazarene Cardinal Stritch Saint Xavier IU-South Bend Judson Governors State Lincoln College Trinity International Roosevelt Trinity Christian Holy Cross (Ind.) St. Ambrose IU-Northwest Holy Cross (Ind.) IU-South Bend Saint Xavier

W 74-43 W 68-54 L 45-60 W 68-65 W 73-36 W 71-38 W 69-55 L 53-66 W 84-72 L 61-96 W 92-68 L 53-57 W 106-61 L 61-68 W 99-55 W 69-50 L 43-71 L 64-70 W 99-97 W 83-62 L 66-71 W 68-55 W 82-65 W 70-63 W 73-66 W 57-43 W 86-55 W 72-58 W 68-59 W 61-56 W 68-60 W 71-55 W 67-62 W 88-68

Brielle Baker Kyla Moore Breanna Wendland Madison Williamson Maci Kuchta Cassi Kraft Brittany West

5-8 5-8 5-8 5-6 5-3 6-1 5-10

So. Jr. Jr. So. Fr. So. Sr.

G G G G G F F

Head coach: Steve Williamson Assistant coach: Sam Ofstad Oct 27 Nov 5 Nov 6 Nov 10 Nov 15 Nov 20 Nov 24 Nov 27 Nov 29 Dec 1 Dec 8 Dec.15 Jan 15 Jan 16 Jan 21 Jan 22 Jan 28 Jan 29 Feb 4 Feb 18 Feb 19 Feb 26 Feb 27

Waldorf Hannibal-LaGrange Williams Baptist Monmouth (Ill.) William Woods Hannibal-LaGrange Grinnell College Columbia College Culver-Stockton Waldorf Lincoln Christian Quincy University College of the Ozarks Wartburg Wilberforce Haskell Indian Nations Bacone College Northern New Mexico Cottey College Cottey College CFisher College Washington Adventist Haskell Indian Nation

W 79-49 W 69-29 W 91-76 W 72-63 L 64-72 W 72-48 W 78-38 L 60-67 W 58-47 W 67-45 W 85-39 L 53-56 W 77-34 L 64-79 W 68-56 W 66-52 W, 85-43 W 69-44 W 95-50 W 60-47 W 81-53 W 76-58 W 84-59

Creston, Iowa Norfolk, Neb. Richfield, Minn.

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa Columbia, Mo. Towanda, Ill. Shakopee, Minn.