WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- Houghton women's basketball will launch their journey to an NCCAA championship Wednesday as they take on No. 3 seed Grace College at the NCCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
The No. 6 Highlanders and host No. 3 Lady Lancers will be squaring off in the final game of the day at 5:15 p.m.
Houghton started the 2022-23 campaign with seven-straight wins and built their record up to a program-best 9-1 mark through the first 10 games of the season. They finished the regular season with a 17-8 record and advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament for the second time in program history, earning the No. 4 seed before losing to No. 5 Elmira College. The Highlanders are led by conference rookie of the year
Crysta Lacrosse, who averages 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. She also leads the team in assists and steals. Junior
Carlee Miller is close behind at 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. First-years
Kayla Camacho (9.7 points) and
Emma Cole (8.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 64 total blocked shots) are also key contributors for the Highlanders, who average 62 points per game, while giving up 54, and outrebound opponents 43.5 to 40.4. The 17 wins are the most by the program since going 15-12 in 2007-08. This is their first NCCAA Tournament appearance since 1988-89.
Lacrosse (2nd team) and Miller (honorable mention) were both named to NCCAA All-Midwest Region teams.
The Lady Lancers, who compete in the NAIA Crossroads Conference, come into the game with a record of 22-10 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament a week ago. This will be the seventh consecutive trip to the NCCAA National Tournament for the Lady Lancers, and their 15th appearance overall. Grace's leading scorers,
Karlee Feldman and (15.6 points per game) and
Maddie Ryman (15.3 ppg), helped lead Grace to the most successful season in program history to this point. The Lady Lancers set new program marks for longest win streak, most conference wins, most most wins in a single season, as well as helping Grace earn its first ever NAIA Tournament bid and first ever NAIA Tournament win.
Feldman (1st team and player of the year), Ryman (1st team), Kiersten Findley (2nd team) and Head Coach Dan Davis received NCCAA All-Midwest postseason honors.
The winner of the game will advance to Thursday's semifinals vs. the winner of No. 2 College of the Ozarks and No. 7 Asbury University. The loser will move to the consolation bracket on Thursday vs. the loser of No. 2 vs. No. 7 contest. The other first round matchups feature No. 4 Alice Lloyd College vs. No. 5 Columbia International University and No. 1 Oakland City University vs. No. 8 Kentucky Christian University.
Fifth and seventh place games are scheduled for Friday, with the Championship and Third Place games set for Saturday.
The eight-team tournament guarantees three games for each participant in the event, which is hosted by Grace at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
See the full list of teams and schedule for the tournament.
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