HARROGATE, TN - The Lenoir-Rhyne women's basketball team is set to face off against the Augusta Jaguars tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. All NCAA Southeast Regional (first, second, & third round) games will take place in Harrogate, Tennessee, on the campus of #1 seed Lincoln Memorial.
The Bears (24-5, 20-2 SAC) are the #2 seed in the region and earned their spot thanks to an incredible 19-game win streak to close the regular season. They set school records for most points in a season (2,511) and conference victories (20). Their average of 86.6 points per game ranks second in Division II (Minnesota State, 92.1). This marks Lenoir-Rhyne's eighth NCAA Tournament appearance. The Bears are looking for just their second win in tournament history as they sit on a 1-7 record in NCAA postseason play. That lone win came as the #1 seed in 2009, a 69-58 win over Anderson.
First year head coach
Emry Tsitouris was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, becoming the third coach in program history to win the award.
Abigail Brown was named SAC Freshman of the Year and the All-SAC First Team while
Aaliyah El was a D2CCA All-Region and All-SAC First Team honoree.
Elyseia Brown was named to the All-SAC Third Team and
Ralee Bare to the All-Freshman team.
The Jaguars (21-9, 13-7 PBC) are the #3 seed and grabbed the automatic qualifying bid after upsetting their way to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship, defeating Georgia College 61-56 in the title game. This is Augusta's sixth NCAA tournament appearance and their second in three seasons. The Jaguars advanced to the Elite Eight in 2004.
Augusta placed two on the All-Conference team. Quinasia Abercrombie was an All-PBC First Team member while Amari Jackson was named to the Second Team. Abercrombie averaged 15.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 83.7% from the charity stripe. She scored a career-high 33 points in the Jag's win over Middle Georgia in the PBC opening round. Jackson averages 13.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game and shoots 58.4% from the field. Augusta takes pride in their efficeincy, ranking 30th in the nation with a team field goal percentage of 43.8%. Head coach Celeste Stewart is in her fourth year at Augusta and holds a career record of 80-39. She served on staff at fellow SAC school Wingate from 2014-18.
Tomorrow's game is scheduled to tip-off at 2:30 p.m. from B. Frank Tex Turner Arena in Harrogate, Tennessee. Should the prior game between #3 Coker and #6 Francis Marion go long the game time would adjust accordingly. Tickets will not be sold in advance and can be bought at the gate.
