Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
BILLINGS, MT — The 39th annual NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Visit Billings is being held at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Mont., March 13 – 19.
The Bethel Lady Wildcats are seeded No. 4 in the Naismith Bracket and will face No. 5 seeded Lindsey Wilson at 9:30 a. m. CDT Wednesday morning. Bethel (28-5) earned an automatic bid after winning the Southern States Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship. LWC received an at-large bid after finishing 22-10. The Blue Raiders compete in the Mid-South Conference. Bethel beat Lindsey Wilson 53-51 on November 9 in the MSC/SSAC Challenge at Crisp Arena in McKenzie.
Bethel & LWC in the NAIA Championship: The Lady Wildcats will make their seventh straight and tenth all-time appearance in the national tournament. The Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight four seasons ago in the Championship, before falling to eventual runner-up Campbellsville. It was Bethel’s second straight Elite Eight appearance. They fell to Freed-Hardeman the previous season. Three years ago Bethel, a No. 1 seed bowed out in round one after a 56-51 loss to Cumberland University. Two seasons ago the Lady Wildcats lost in the Sweet Sixteen to eventual runner –up Lewis Clark State. Bethel fell to Vanguard in the first round last year. The Lady Cats are 7-9 all-time in the national tournament.
Lindsey Wilson is making its 14th appearance in the national tournament and its fifth straight. The Blue Raiders own an 8-13 all-time record in the national tournament. Lindsey Wilson is located in Columbia, Kentucky.