ANGOLA, Ind. -- The Trine women's basketball team will travel to Ohio Northern to face Illinois Wesleyan in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament this weekend.
The Thunder will face the Titans Friday evening at the ONU Sports Center. Trine punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament by winning its first MIAA regular season and tournament titles. The Thunder enter the tournament 24-2 overall and riding a 10-game winning streak. IWU received one of 20 at-large bids to the tournament. The Titans finished the regular season 18-9 overall and lost to Wheaton in the CCIW Tournament championship game.
The weekend bracket also includes host Ohio Northern and Lakeland. The Polar Bears went undefeated and won the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title with a 27-0 overall record. Lakeland finished the season 20-7 overall and won the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference title.
The winner of Friday's matchup between Trine and Illinois Wesleyan will face ONU or Lakeland in the second round Saturday, Mar. 4. A total of 64 teams were selected for the Women's NCAA Division III Tournament.
CLICK HERE to view the complete NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament bracket.
The NCAA Tournament appearance will be the first in program history. Trine joined NCAA Division III in 2004. The Thunder need one win to tie the school record set by the 1988-89 team.
Trine is led by MIAA Most Valuable Player Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind. / Garrett) and MIAA Defensive Player of the Year Hayley Martin (Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb). Each player is the first to receive their respective honor in program history.
Game times and ticket information will be announced Tuesday. Please visit trinethunder.com for details.