Lyon College and John Brown University women's basketball teams have enjoyed trips to the NAIA National Tournament recently, but neither has managed to win a first-round game.
That will change for one of them Thursday when they meet in a first-round game at 7 p.m. in Frankfort, Tenn.
Lyon (24-8) advanced to the tournament for the first time in three years, while JBU (25-7) is playing for the fourth time in 11 years, having lost in the opening round in 2004, 2006 and 2011.
"We're pretty excited about going in a year that was supposed to be a rebuilding year," Lyon Coach Tracy Stewart-Lange said. "Our girls are going in hungry. ... It's ironic to be playing a team from Arkansas, a team we're familiar with."
The teams didn't play each other this year, but Lyon defeated JBU twice by a combined four points a year ago.
"We had a tough nonconference schedule, plus we have played six teams in the national tournament," Stewart-Lange said. "We know JBU is real solid with a solid bench. They seem to all know their roles and are a very talented three-point shooting team."
John Brown leads the nation in three-point fields made (300) but is also fourth in scoring defense, allowing an average of 56.3 points a game. Sierra Shipley, a senior from Fayetteville, is ninth in three-point field-goal percentage (44 percent) and 10th in made three-pointers (84).
"Sierra has been Miss Consistent for us," JBU Coach Jeff Soderquist said. "One thing that makes her special is she was nominated for defensive player of the year in the conference. I think with her and a supporting cast around, where they all fit their roles, makes this a very special team."
JBU's 25 victories are a school record. The Golden Eagles finished 15-5, good enough for third in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Lyon (19-3) finished third in the American Midwest behind Freed-Hardeman and Columbia.
"Their conference probably isn't as deep as ours, but their top three are pretty good," Soderquist said. "That was definitely a big win for them over Freed."
Shipley's average of 16.2 points a game leads JBU, and senior Kortni Barenberg averages 11.2. Soderquist said the team also has gotten a lift from junior Lauren Rogers, who played well in the conference tournament in place of junior Eliana Fernandez, who was lost in February with a season-ending injury.
Sophomores Carina Jackson (14.9 ppg) and Taylor Gaedtke (10.3) lead Lyon.
Sports on 03/19/2014