JACKSON, Tenn. - The Rogers State women's basketball team will make its first appearance at the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:45 p.m. as it squares off against the No. 2 seed, Westminster College (Utah) inside Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.
Coach Amy Williams' squad tallied its best record in program history at 23-9. RSU joins four other schools from the Sooner Athletic Conference at the Championship. RSU reached the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Final for the first time and finished the season winning 16 of the last 21 games. The Hillcats defeated No. 2 Oklahoma City, No. 15 Langston University and No. 22 Lubbock Christian en route to Jackson, Tenn.
The Hillcats are led by Cortney Crockett, Angie Criner and Candice Stewart. Criner was named Sooner Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year. The junior guard played in all 32 of the Hillcats contests, coming off the bench for a majority of the season, while averaging 13.2 points per game. Crockett, a senior point guard, was named second team All-Conference after leading the Hillcats with 106 assists while averaging a team-best 13.5 points per game in her only season on the Hill. Candice Stewart was named all-conference honorable mention in her second season as a Hillcat. Stewart has averaged 11 points and nearly eight rebounds per game in her senior season. Criner, Stewart and Crockett were named to the All- Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Team. Crockett also earned the Hustle Award for her efforts in the tournament.
The eighth-ranked Griffins (26-6) were an automatic qualifier as they won the Frontier Conference regular season title. Westminster is a No. 2 seed while the Cats received an at-large bid and are a No.7 seed. This will be the first meeting between the two squads. Westminster has made five-straight appearances at the Big Dance. They are 3-4 all-time at the Championship as they advance past the opening round the last two seasons. Michelle Pace leads four Griffins in double figures at 13.6 points per game. Sophomore Nicole Yazzie averages 12.1 points per contest with Allie Eastman at 11.2 and Dani Evans scoring 10.6. Pace collects a team-best 5.4 rebounds per game with Yazzie recording 3.8 assists and 1.75 steals.
The winner of the No. 8 Westminster vs. RSU first-round game will advance to the second round on March 18 at 4:30 p.m. to face the winner of the No. 3seed Biola (Calif.) and William Wood (Mo.). Both teams punched its ticket to the Dance with at-large bids. Biola is making its sixth appearance at the Tournament with a 25-6 overall record this season. William Wood has a 29-4 record, making its fourth appearance at the Championship.
All RSU basketball games during the National Tournament will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3 FM and will be live streamed on the athletic website and on www.rsu.edu.
