Three college basketball teams from Kentucky still standing in NAIA national championships
Kentucky will be represented by two women’s teams and one men’s team on the national stages of the NAIA basketball championships this week.
The men’s and women’s teams from the University of the Cumberlands advanced with second-round victories Saturday as did the women’s squad from Campbellsville. Georgetown’s men’s and women’s teams were both defeated Saturday along with the men from Union College.
Both 64-team tournaments got underway Friday and Saturday with first- and second-round games at campus sites. The 16 remaining women’s teams will compete for the title March 21-26 at Sioux City, Iowa, while the men’s final 16 square off on the same dates in Kansas City, Missouri.
The tournament opened Friday with five women’s teams and four men’s teams from Kentucky. In Friday’s first round, the Pikeville men and women saw their seasons end along with the Lindsey Wilson women.
Women
Campbellsville 82, William Carey (Miss.) 73: Lauren Lee (Casey County) led the host Tigers to their 23rd win in a row with 19 points, eight assists and four steals.
The Tigers, the No. 1 seed in the Duer Quadrant, move on to Sioux City to face No. 5 seed Menlo of California (20-8) in the round of 16 on Friday at noon EDT.
Maddy Boyle (Lincoln County) added 17 points, Courtney Pritchett 12 and Bailey Pedigo (Barren County) 11 for Campbellsville (30-1).
Cumberlands 86, Byan (Tenn.) 65: Cumberlands, the No. 3 seed in the Duer Quadrant and playing at home, advanced to the round of 16 for the second year in a row as four players scored in double figures.
Next up for the Patriots is a date with No. 7 seed Dakota Wesleyan of South Dakota (22-10) on Friday at 2 p.m. EDT.
Kaylie Monday led Cumberlands (24-9) with 19 points, Lakin Burke scored 18, Kassie Monday 15 and Channing Lewis (Mercer County) 10. Kassie Monday also dished out 12 assists and made four steals.
Loyola (La.) 79, Georgetown 74: Georgetown, the No. 3 seed in the Cramer Quadrant, narrowed No. 6 Loyola’s lead to three points several times during the fourth quarter but the host Wolfpack (26-4) had an answer every time.
Trinity Klock led Georgetown (25-7) with 16 points off the bench. University of Kentucky transfer Erin Toller (Sacred Heart) finished with 15.
Men
Cumberlands 80, Florida College 69: J.J. Ramey (South Laurel) scored 24 points and Anthony Johnson came off the bench to score 22 as Cumberlands (28-4) pulled away at home.
The Patriots, the No. 2 seed in the Liston Quadrant, advanced to Kansas City next week to face No. 3 Morningside of Iowa (23-9) on Friday at 8 p.m. EDT.
Jonathan Brown added 16 points and nine rebounds for Cumberlands.
Morningside (Iowa) 61, Georgetown 59: Joey Skoff made two free throws with six seconds left and Brendan Buckley stole the ball on No. 6 seed Georgetown’s final possession to lead the No. 3 seed Mustangs (23-9) to a narrow victory at home in the Liston Quadrant. Ely Doble scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half for Morningside, making 11 of 12 free throw attempts to hold the Tigers (24-8) at bay.
Jabrion Spikes (Caldwell County) was Georgetown’s only player in double figures with 15 points as the Tigers were held below 60 points for only the second time this season.
Grace (Ind.) 106, Union 61: Grace, the No. 1 seed in the Naismith Quadrant, made easy work of No. 8 Union, which played an overtime game one night earlier, at Winona Lake, Indiana.
Deonte Douglas (Owensboro) led Union (26-7) with 13 points.
Six of Kentucky’s nine teams in NAIA basketball championships survive to play another day
Kentucky colleges well-represented in NAIA basketball national tournament
