Loyola earns eighth straight appearance in NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament

Loyola Wolf Pack women’s basketball team will make their 13th overall appearance in the NAIA national tournament

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Loyola University New Orleans women’s basketball team was already locked in for their eighth straight appearance in the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship tournament when the Wolf Pack won the conference tournament last week. On Thursday, though, Loyola found out its opponent and where it’ll play.

In a field of 48 teams, Loyola earned the 19th overall seed and it’ll travel to Park City, Kansas, to play in the Opening Round against Langston (Okla.) and Concordia (Neb.). The NAIA Opening Round consists of 16 three-team tournaments in eight cities, and Loyola is a part of Park City’s B Bracket. The winner of each Opening Round tournament will advance to a six-day, 16-team tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, to determine the National Champion.

The Wolf Pack earned the No. 2 seed in the Park City B bracket, and they’ll play No. 3 Langston Friday, March 12, for the right to play No. 1 Concordia the following day. Concordia received the 16th overall seed and Langston was tabbed No. 39th, and the times for the games are TBD.

Loyola won its fifth Southern States Athletic Conference tournament championship last week, and it’s the only Southern States Athletic Conference to make the national tournament. Loyola head coach Kellie Kennedy won SSAC Coach of the Year Wednesday, and Sandra Cannady, who was the SSAC tournament MVP, was named the conference’s Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-Conference. Presley Wascom, Kennedy Hansberry and Taylor Thomas were named to the SSAC All-Conference First Team, while Jazmene McMillan was picked to the All-Freshman Team.

Loyola finished the regular season and conference tournament on a 15-game winning streak to earn a 20-1 overall record. It’s the eighth consecutive season with at least 20 wins for the Wolf Pack women’s basketball program.

You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com