SIOUX CITY, Iowa – After a two-day drive across the Midwest over to Sioux City, Iowa, the No. 2 Davenport women's basketball team now begins a quest for a national championship. The top-seeded Panthers take the third slot of an eight-game opening round against Clarke College (Iowa) Wednesday at 2:45 p.m. EDT. The game can be followed live on the Davenport Athletics Network with Ken Clemens and Ed Keating calling the action via audio.
 
vs. Clarke (NAIA Division II Tournament First Round)
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Tipoff: 2:45 p.m. EDT
Location: Sioux City, Iowa (Tyson Events Center)
Internet Coverage: NAIA Network (Live Video/Stats) | The DAN (Audio)
Prices: NAIA Network (Live Video) - 28 games; $20 championship pass / $75 all-season pass | The DAN Audio (Audio) – Free
The DAN Announcers: Ken Clemens (Play-by-Play) | Ed Keating (Analyst)
NAIA Network Announcers: TBA
 
Time to Go Dancing Again
Davenport is making its 11th straight appearance to the NAIA Division II Tournament. The Panthers are 16-10 in the national tournament and 8-3 under fourth-year head coach Mike Williams. In fact, DU has made it to the championship game in 2011 and 2013 along with four Fab Four appearances in five years.
 
A Quick Look at Clarke
Under fifth-year head coach Don Adams, the Crusaders are entering their first ever appearance in the NAIA Division II Tournament in program history. The Dubuque, Iowa based Clarke clinched an automatic berth by winning the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament, defeating fifth-seeded William Penn, top-seeded St. Ambrose and third-seeded Mount Mercy in the conference playoffs for the ticket. Clarke is led by Breland Prochaska, who averages 13.8 points per game but is shooting 34.8 percent from the field including a team-best 40 3-point baskets. Kelsey Ernst, who averages 10.3 points per game, has the best shooting percentage on the team (56.1) and also owns a large lead in the rebounding department (5.7 per game).
 
Panthers vs. Crusaders
Davenport and Clarke have met only once on the basketball hardwood, dating back to New Year's Eve in 2007. All-American Jeanette Woodberry scored 28 points to lead the Panthers to a 93-69 victory over the Crusaders in Dubuque, Iowa.
 
Women's Basketball Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-871-6180 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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