by (Missouri ) – The Association of Independent Institutions conference has announced the finalized tournament schedule and the Haskell Indian Nations University Women’s basketball team have qualified as the No. 3 overall seed in their first season in the league. They will face No. 6 seed Northern New Mexico College.
Led by fifth year head coach Shane Flanagan, the Indians (20-5) secured their spot in the tournament, as the #3 seed, by finishing 6-3 in conference. Haskell will play February 26, 2016 at 8:30 AM CST versus Northern New Mexico College who is (11-19) on the season. Earlier this season, the then No. 18 Haskell beat the Eagles in Denver, Colorado by the score of 69-57, but the Eagles were able to split the regular season series against Haskell with a victory in Northern New Mexico by the score of 83-75.
This year the A.I.I conference is a three-bid league, which means the first, second and third place teams get an automatic bid to the NAIA Division II National Tournament which will be held in Sioux City, Iowa March 9-15.
The Haskell Indians are currently led by junior forward Tyler Sumpter (Paiute) who averages 14.6 ppg and ranks number 10 in Division II in 3-Pt Field goal percentage at (0.436). Not too far behind Tyler is junior center Keli Warrior (Ponca Tribe) who averages 13.7 ppg and Kortney Meat (Cheyenne/Arapaho) who averages 10.4 ppg and ranks number 40 in Division II in Steals per Game at (2.240).
The Northern New Mexico Eagles are led by Junior Guard Demetria Clichee, (Navajo) averaging just under 15 points per game, and Seniors Shayna Porter-Banks, and Francine Clark, (Navajo) both averaging 9.5 points per contest. Adding to the late success of the Eagles is freshman point guard, Cheyenne Cordova (Pojoaque Pueblo). Cheyenne is averaging 16.6 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in her last seven games, including a 26 point effort versus NCAA DII Western New Mexico College.
Women, February 26th
8:30 am — (3) Haskell vs (6) Northern New Mexico
10:15 am — (1) Ozarks vs (8) Washington Adventist
4 pm — (2) Indiana Northwest vs (7) Johnson & Wales
5:45 pm — (4) Mount Mercy vs (5) Clarke
All games of the A.I.I. Basketball Championships will be broadcast live on the Mount Mercy University Stretch Internet Game Central portal. Fans may choose a single game purchase of $8.95, a men’s or women’s tournament pass for $19.95 or an all-tournament pass (all men’s and women’s games) for $29.95. Live stats will also be available for every game free of charge. Click here to access live video.
