The Wittenberg Tiger Women's Basketball team is heading to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2015. With the leadership of six returning senior's and new head coach Tamika Williams-Jeter, the Tigers put together an overall record of 18-7 and 10-4 in North Coast Athletic Conference play. The Tigers started to heat up down the backstretch of the season, putting together a 10-game win streak, which included claiming the program's 9th NCAC Tournament crown. Wittenberg will head to Holland, Michigan to take on the Pioneers from Marietta College on Friday, March 4 at 5:00 PM to begin their NCAA journey.
The Tigers opened up the postseason with a 56-44 win over the Big Red from Denison University, in the quarterfinal round. As the No. 4 seed, Wittenberg was slated to take on tournament top-seed and nationally ranked No. 10 DePauw in the semifinal game. Wittenberg was able to upset the number one seed DePauw, 55-52. Kristie Kalis led the scoring effort with 13 points. Jade Simpson tallied the double-double, contributing 12 points and 11 rebounds, helping push Wittenberg into the championship game. Seeing contribution from eight different Tiger scorers in the final game against the Battling Bishops from Ohio Wesleyan. Wittenberg was led by Kalis with 18 points, as she would go on to earn the Nan Nichols Award (NCAC Tournament MVP). Delaney Williams dished out a team-high six assists in the overtime thriller, adding 11 points. Abigail Yunker added 13 points and seven rebounds, joining Kalis on the NCAC All-Tournament Team. Simpson cleaned up on the glass, pulling down 13 rebounds and coming up with three steals in the final game.
Forty-four conferences have been awarded automatic qualification for the 2022 championship. There are no berths reserved for Pool B and the final 20 berths are reserved for Pool C, which includes institutions from automatic-qualifying conferences that are not the conference champion and any remaining Pool B teams.
Sixteen first/second-round sites will be conducted March 4-5. Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites March 11-12. Winners of the four sectional sites will advance to the national semifinals and final March 17 and 19. All games, except the semifinals/final, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The semifinals/final will be conducted at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosted by Sports PITTSBURGH and Presidents' Athletic Conference.
TICKETS
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for students with ID and youth. All seating is general admission in designated sections.
Tickets will be available online through the Hope College ticket office, or in person or by phone at (616) 395-7890 beginning on Wednesday, March 2, at 9 a.m. at the Hope ticket office, 100 E. 8th Street. The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at DeVos Fieldhouse, while supplies last, when doors open at DeVos Fieldhouse on Friday, March 4, at 4 p.m. and on Saturday, March 5, at 6 p.m.
MASKING OPTIONAL
Wearing a mask is optional for spectators inside DeVos Fieldhouse.
CONCESSIONS
Hope College concessions stands will be open for all three games.
MEET THE TEAMS
Hope
The Flying Dutch (No. 2 D3hoops, No. 3 WBCA) won the MIAA Tournament to clinch an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Led by head coach Hope won a share of the MIAA regular-season championship, sharing the title with Trine University. This is the Flying Dutch's 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance. Hope won national championships in 2006 and 1990. The Flying Dutch were ranked No. 1 and unbeaten in 2019-20 heading into sectionals before the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guard Kenedy Schoonveld is the MIAA MVP for the third consecutive season. Center Olivia Voskuil is a four-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-MIAA First Team honoree.
LaRoche
The Redhawks clinched a share of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference by defeating co-champion Penn State-Behrend on the final day of the regular season, then won three games to capture the AMCC Tournament title and clinch the league's automatic bid to the national tournament. This is LaRoche's seventh postseason appearance in the past 13 years under head coach Kam Gissendanner. LaRoche have won 14 games in a row. The Red Hawks have three double-digit scorers: guard Danajah Sanders (13.7), guard/forward Makayla Abram (12.4), and guard Avanna Mazyck (12.2).
Marietta
The Pioneers received an at-large berth after going 21-5 during the regular season and finishing third in the Ohio Athletic Conference. Marietta lost in the quarterfinals of the OAC Tournament to the University of Mount Union (Ohio). This is the Pioneers' second NCAA Tournament appearance. Head coach Kole Vivian is in his fifth season. Forward Erin Hann and guard Olivia Gribble top the Pioneers in scoring at 10.2 points per game.