Game Notes | Tournament Central | Live Audio | NAIA Tournament Bracket | College of Saint Mary
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After having more than a week to prepare for the NAIA Division II Tournament, the Davenport women's basketball team's road to a national title begins Thursday at 11:15 a.m. CST as the second seed Panthers take on seventh seed College of Saint Mary. Fans can listen to the game live on the Davenport Athletics Network (D.A.N.) with Ken Clemens and Ed Keating calling the action.
 
The winner of the contest will face the winner of Concordia (Neb.) and Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) in the second round Friday at 9:30 a.m. EST.
 
Davenport enters the national tournament after compiling a 30-2 record along with a Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The last time the Lady Panthers were on the hardwood was on Feb. 25, when they dominated Concordia for the WHAC Tournament title 91-61 at the Student Center.
 
While the Lady Panthers will be seeking for a national title, one individual will be looking to join an elite club as Karli Harris is four points away from her 1,000^th in a Davenport uniform.
 
College of Saint Mary will be entering the tournament as an at-large selection with a 25-8 record after having lost in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament final to then-No. 5 College of the Ozarks. The Flames are led by Karyn Bixler, who is averaging 13.85 points and 1.15 blocks per game this season. Jessica Zaruba has been the leader on the team by averaging 7.79 rebounds, 6.55 assists and 2.49 steals.
 
The 32-team field is comprised of 21 automatic qualifiers from NAIA affiliated conferences and independents, plus 11 at-large selections, which were determined using the final Top 25 poll released on Wednesday.
 
Eight teams are appearing in the National Championship for at least the 10th time in school history, led by the 19 appearances made by College of the Ozarks (Mo.). Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) has the second most with 17 trips. Eight schools have qualified for the National Championship for the first time ever: Mayville State (N.D.), Oklahoma Wesleyan, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), Purdue Calumet (Ind.), Reinhardt (Ga.), Roosevelt (Ill.), Saint Xavier (Ill.) and Siena Heights (Mich.). Olivet Nazarene and Saint Xavier are first year Division II members, have made trips to the Division I National championship.
 
Follow Davenport Athletics on: FACEBOOK | TWITTER | You Tube
 
Follow Davenport Women's Basketball on: FACEBOOK | TWITTER