KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the teams and bracket for the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship First Round presented by Ballogy. The 64-team bracket will begin with the first and second rounds at host sites nationwide on March 15-16. The 2024 NAIA second round winners will meet in Sioux City, Iowa at the NAIA National Championship final site presented by Bomgaars and Sterling. The 43rd annual championship occurs at the Tyson Events Center from March 21-22.
For the first time since the 2016-17 season, the University of Mobile Women's Basketball program was announced as one of the 64 teams competing in the tournament field this year, earning an automatic bid following a runner-up finish in the 2024 SSAC Championship Tournament. Mobile, under the leadership of first-year head coach Sydney Westry, finished the season with a 26-6 overall record, while going 16-4 in SSAC play. The Rams claimed a No. 11 seed and were placed in the Williamsburg Bracket where Mobile will face off with Bryan College (Tenn.), a No. 6 seed, in the first round in Williamsburg, Ky. Host-school University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) will face Siena Heights (Mich.) in the other first-round matchup in the Williamsburg Bracket. Mobile versus Bryan is tabbed for 3:00 p.m. CT on Friday, Mar. 15, and will be broadcasted live HERE. For more on the Williamsburg Bracket, CLICK HERE.
Mobile recorded several notable victories on the year, including sweeping Brewton-Parker (Ga.), a No. 13 seed in this year's tournament field, in all three games played during the season. Additionally, the Rams finished with a 1-1 record against rival William Carey (Miss.), a No. 8 seed in the tournament field. Finally, Mobile managed a big road win over Loyola (La.), the eventual SSAC champions and a No. 6 seed, in New Orleans, La. halfway through the season. All four teams are the SSAC's only representatives in this year's NAIA National Tournament.
This year's first round field includes 37 automatic qualifiers and 27 at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title or regular season championship, finished runner-up at the conference tournament or were otherwise selected by the conference. The NAIA Women's Basketball National Selection Committee determined the at-large bids. The selection committee consists of one representative from each geographical area and six at-large members consisting of coaches and administrators from around the country.
All first and second round games will be streamed by the host and may be produced on various platforms.
For a full look at the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship Tournament bracket, CLICK HERE.
The NAIA Network
The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast all Round of 16, quarterfinal and semifinal games live in Sioux City at the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship final site. While the championship will be streamed exclusively on ESPN3. Single-day passes on the NAIA Network can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, CLICK HERE.
FOLLOW THE RAMS
For complete coverage of University of Mobile Athletics, follow the Rams on social media at /MobileRams (Facebook), @UMobileRams ("X" FKA Twitter), and @umobilerams (Instagram), or visit the official home of the University of Mobile Athletic Department at https://umobilerams.com/.
About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
