Women's Basketball takes on LSU-Alexandria Friday at 7:30 in NAIA First Round

McKenzie, Tenn. – Benedictine Women's Basketball will start their NAIA postseason on the campus of Bethel (Tenn) College against the Generals of LSU-Alexandria on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The match-up between the two programs is the first time they have met on the hardwood. Benedictine's trip to the first round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championships marks their 14th trip to the NAIA postseason. For the General, the top to Tennessee is the program's second overall trip to the NAIA postseason.

The Matchup: No. 8 seed Benedictine (24-7) vs. No. 9 seed LSU-Alexandria (23-8) | 7:30 p.m. Friday | McKenzie, Tenn. 
Watch: https://www.ravenathletics.com/links/7nfq7s (stream supplied by Bethel is a pay-per-view stream)
Listen: https://www.ravenathletics.com/links/fs31tp (Courtesy of KAIR 93.7 FM)
Live Stats: https://www.ravenathletics.com/links/m54lpc
Tickets: https://www.ravenathletics.com/links/0pbx8t

About LSU-Alexandria: The Generals earned an at-large selection into the first round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. They posted an 18-6 record in the Red River Athletic Conference where they finished third overall. They lost in the Red River Championship Game 54-51 to LSU-Shreveport after wins over Louisiana Christian and Xavier – the No. 2 seed – in the tournament semifinals. … LSU-Alexandria is averaging 69.5 points per game while allowing 63,9 points. They shot 41.0 percent through 31 games with an average of 6.6 3-pointers per game. They are averaging 41.0 rebounds per game with 227 steals and 71 blocks. … Three players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by Danna Martin-Hartwick at 13.7 points. Jewel Jones is at 12.6 points and Benedetta Peracchi at 12.0 round out the top three scorers for the Generals. Martin-Hartwick is a first-team Red River selection, Jones is a second-team selection and Peracchi was named honorable mention.

About Benedictine: The Ravens earned the program's first automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time since 2015 after winning the Heart Women's Basketball Championship Game over No. 10 MNU 65-61. This season's trip marks the second straight trip to the NAIA first round for Benedictine and the fourth time they have played in the NAIA postseason since the change to the current format of a first and second round before teams head to the host site for the Round of 16. … The Ravens averaged 73.5 points per game in 31 games this season while holding opponents to an average of 60.4 points. They average 42.6 percent from the floor with an average of 7.6 3-pointers per game. They are averaging 43.8 rebounds per game with 248 steals and 102 blocks. … Lauryn Dubbert and Josie Weishaar lead the Ravens in scoring at 13.7 and 13.2 points. Jennifer Jacobs also averages 10.2 points. Kennedy Nicholson has been around 10 points per game this season, but heads into the NAIA first round at 9.2 points, giving the Ravens four scoring threats. Dubbert and Weishaar were both named All-Heart first team while Jacobs was named to the second team.

What's Next: Benedictine and LSU-Alexandria play the second game of the first round hosted at Bethel. Bethel is the No. 1 seed in the Cramer Quadrant and takes on No. 16 Sterling College at 5:30 p.m. before the Ravens-Generals Game. The first-round winners will play at 4 p.m. on Saturday with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 in Sioux City, Iowa, on March 20 of 21.

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