FORT WORTH, TX: The NAIA has released the bracket for its 2011 Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament. Texas Wesleyan checked in as a seven seed facing second seeded California Baptist University. That game is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start on Wednesday, March 16.

 

Both Texas Wesleyan and Cal Baptist are making their second tournament appearance and seeking their first tournament victory.

 

The Lancers were picked eighth in the pre-season Golden States Athletic Conference Poll, but went on to win the GCAC Tournament and end the year with a number five national ranking with an overall record of 26-7. They are led by All-Conference selections Dana Olsen, a 6-1 senior forward who averages 18 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, and V.V. Vascuinaite, a 5-9 junior guard who averages 16.5 points per game and has hit 99 three-pointers on the season. That duo paces five players who average double-figures in scoring.

 

Cal Baptist ranks fourth nationally with 549 assists, fifth in three-point percentage (.376) and field goal percentage (.457), and eighth in scoring (2,488 points).

 

The Lady Rams earned an automatic bid as the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up. At 28-5 on the year, they are one win shy of the school record for wins in a season. Texas Wesleyan placed four players on the All-RRAC squad, including first-team selection Brittany White who led the team with 12.5 points per game while grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, second-team selection Octavia Mullins has posted a school record 344 total rebounds. She ranks fourth nationally with 4.8 offensive rebounds per game, seventh in total rebounds, and fifteenth with 10.3 rebounds per game.

 

Thirty-one games will be played in Jackson, Tennessee’s Oman Arena March 16-22.  The first 30 games will be video-streamed by NeuLion, the parent company of JumpTV. Three different subscription plans for basketball (Men's and Women's Division I; Men's and Women's Division II) will be available for tournament coverage. Users can purchase the All-Tournament pass, which includes every event offered on College Sports Direct from all four basketball tournaments for $39.95. Each of the four basketball tournaments can be purchased separately for $24.95 and any single day can be purchased for $9.95. Streaming video can be found by clicking here.