by (Lawrence, Ks) – Both the Haskell Indian Nations University men’s and women’s basketball teams were each selected as one of the eight teams for the Associated of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference tournament to be held Feb 22-24 in Lincoln, Illinois.
The A.I.I. takes the top 8 teams out of the 16 team conference with the Haskell women earning the No. 3 seed and the Haskell men earning the No. 5 seed.
The Lady Indians are led by freshman Kasey Rice (Pawnee), out of Shawnee, Oklahoma, who is averaging 15 ppg and ranks nationally in blocks per game.
The Indians are led by senior Nakia Hendricks (Masphee), out of Mashpee, Massachusetts, who also averages 15 ppg and he ranks nationally in the top 30 in blocks per game and field goal percentage.
Quarterfinal games will take place Feb. 22 and the four winners advance to the semifinals Feb. 23. The championship game is set for Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Both of the teams advancing to the championship game earn automatic bids to the NAIA Division II national tournament field. The winner of a third-place game Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. will determine the A.I.I.’s third automatic national tournament bid. 2
Women’s Basketball Championship Schedule
(All Times CST)
Friday, Feb. 22
Game 1 – No. 1 Seed College of the Ozarks (24-3) vs. No. 8 Seed Lincoln Christian University (11-14), 1 p.m.
Game 2 – No. 2 Seed Indiana University Northwest (23-6) vs. No. 7 Seed Washington Adventist University (15-10), 3 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 4 Seed Fisher College (18-10) vs. No. 5 Seed Wilberforce University (12-9), 5 p.m.
Game 4 – No. 3 Seed Haskell Indian Nations University (19-8) vs. No. 6 Seed Voorhees College (15-12), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23
Game 5 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 4, 2 p.m.
Game 6 – Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 3, 4 p.m. *If Washington Adventist advances game will be at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24
Game 7 – Loser of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6, 2 p.m.
Game 8 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 4 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Championship Schedule
(All Times CST)
Friday, Feb. 22
Game 1 – No. 1 Seed Indiana University Northwest (21-6) vs. No. 8 Seed Lincoln Christian University (11-16), 1 p.m.
Game 2 – No. 2 Seed Washington Adventist University (20-9) vs. No. 7 Seed Green Mountain College (18-6), 3 p.m.
Game 3 – No. 4 Seed College of the Ozarks (18-9) vs. No. 5 Seed Haskell Indian Nations University (12-15), 5:30 p.m.
Game 4 – No. 3 Seed Voorhees College (19-5) vs. No. 6 Seed Northern New Mexico College (10-16), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 23
Game 5 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 – Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24
Game 7 – Loser of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 6, 5:30 p.m.
Game 8 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 7:30 p.m.
