Bethel draws Bryan (Tenn.) in round one of NAIA Championships
Bethel draws Bryan (Tenn.) in round one of NAIA Championships
Olathe, Kan. (March 1, 2006) After learning at midnight on Wednesday morning that they would be making their third trip to NAIA D-II National Tournament in four years, the Bethel Lady Wildcats found out their draw for the 2006 Championships on Wednesday afternoon.
Bethel, a No. 4 seed in their quarter of the draw, will face No. 5 Bryan (Tenn.) in the first round of the tournament on Wednesday, March 8 at 10:15 am. Bryan College (25-7) was the regular season champion in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). Bryan was ranked #17 in the final NAIA poll released last week, just behind #16 Bethel. Also in Bethel's quarter of the draw are Cedarville (Ohio), Maine-Fort Kent, Indiana Wesleyan, Warner Pacific (Ore.), Iowa Wesleyan, and Northwestern (Iowa). With a Bethel win, the Lady Wildcats would face the winner of No. 1 Cedarville (Ohio) and No. 8 Maine Fort-Kent on Friday, March 10 at 12:00 pm.
Bethel (27-5) finished the 2006 season as the KIAC Tournament runner-up behind Berea College (Ky.). The Lady Wildcats will be looking to pick up their first win in three first round tries at the National Championships being played at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa. Last season, Bethel was defeated by College of Ozarks (Mo.) in the opening round.
KIAC's Berea College (Ky.) earned a No. 5 seed in their quarter of the bracket and will face 4th seed Aquinas (Mich.) on Thursday morning at 8:30 am.
For a complete bracket and information on the 2006 Championships, please visit http://www.naia.org.