2014 Women's Basketball Tournament Set to Begin
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Sun Conference has announced the seedings and pairings for the 2014 Sun Conference Women's Basketball Tournament, Presented by Shula's Hotel and Golf Club, beginning Tuesday, Feb. 25 at four schools across the league. Eight of the nine league teams will participate in the event, concluding with the semifinals and final this coming weekend, Feb. 28 - March 1.
For the second year in a row, the St. Thomas Bobcats will be the top seed and have home-court advantage throughout the tournament. STU, coached by first-year Head Coach Albrey Grimsley, went 13-3 in conference play with all three TSC losses coming on the road. The Bobcars feature three players averaging in double figures offensively, led by Antishia Wright at 15.3 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
The Bobcats will play host to conference newcomer Thomas in Miami Gardens, Fla. after the Night Hawks finished their first season of competition at 5-11 in league play. Taylor Britt paces TU with 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per outing.
The Ave Maria Gyrenes are the No. 2 seed after posting a conference record of 11-5 and holding the tiebreaker of Southeastern. Last season, the Gyrenes fell in the tournament title game to Webber International, but hope to return to the NAIA II Women's Basketball National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa for the second time in program history.
Traveling to Ave Maria will be seventh-seeded Johnson & Wales with a 5-11 TSC mark. The Wildcats will lean on Myia Russell offensively as the Delray Beach, Fla. native averages 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game with Kristina Bridges close behind at 14.9 points and 6.0 boards per contest.
Southeastern will host a quarterfinal game on Tuesday after an 11-5 record in The Sun Conference and will be looking for the first TSC Tournament win in program history. The Fire swept the season series from Warner, their first round opponent and suffered just one home conference loss this year. SEU relies on a stingy defense that allows just 60.7 points per game and 35-percent shooting from the floor.
The Royals of Warner went 6-10 in the league in 2013-14, but dropped four of their final five games entering the tournament. Brooke Garmon averages 15.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for the Royals while Hannah Kotzen averages 10.2 points and 3.9 assists per outing.
The final quarterfinal matchup will feature fourth-seeded and defending tournament champion Webber International against fifth-seeded Northwood. The Warriors and Seahawks both finished the season at 10-6 in conference play, but WIU won the tiebreaker over the Seahawks and will host the tournament contest. Yesenia Lora leads WIU with 17.4 points per game while NU coutners with Sharnele Brown's 17.0 points per contest.
The four winners of the quarterfinal games will travel to the highest-remaining seed for the final four with the semifinals taking place on Friday, Feb. 28 and the championship game slated for Saturday, March 1.
The tournament champion will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa (Mar. 12-18).
For complete tournament coverage, visit the
Tournament Headquarters.