WBU Headed to Kentucky for Opening Rounds NAIA Tournament
WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (3/7/24) - For the first time in school history the Williams Baptist women's basketball team heard its name called on the NAIA Selection Show on Thursday evening.
The No. 9 seeded Lady Eagles will head to Campbellsville, Ky., to take on No. 8 Williams Carey in the opening round of the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Opening Round presented by Ballogy on Friday, March 15.
The winner of the matchup will advance to Saturday's second round to take on the winner of No. 1 Campbellsville and No. 16 Governors State. Game times for both rounds will be announced at a later time.
WBU earned an automatic berth in the NAIA Tournament after its runner-up finish in the American Midwest Tournament. Conferences with 10 or more teams in the NAIA receive two automatic berths. In the AMC the regular champion, Columbia, received the first berth and since the Cougars were also the AMC Tournament champions, the second berth goes to the tournament runner-up.
Williams enjoyed a historic season en route to its first ever NAIA Tournament berth. The Lady Eagles enter with a 24-6 overall record. They won 20 or more games for the first time since the 2015-16 season and are currently one away from tying the school record for most wins in a single season. Their appearance in the AMC Championship game was also the first ever in school history.
William Carey finished the season with a 21-4 overall record, including a 15-3 mark in the Southern States Athletic Conference before losing in the opening round of their conference tournament.
More information about next week's matchup and host site will be announced as it becomes available.