Corban Draws Sterling in Opening Round of NAIA DII Tournament

Heading into the national tournament, Corban is riding an 11-game winning streak.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

SALEM - The Corban's women's basketball team has drawn the NAIA's No. 9-ranked Lady Warriors of Sterling (Kan.) in an opening round game of the 2007 Division II tournament on Thursday, March 8th, at 9:15 PM (CST).

The Warriors will be playing the final game of the first round and would have twenty-four hours between first and second round games.

As a 6th seed, Corban drew the 3rd seed in its bracket with the nation's No. 2-seeded College of the Ozarks (Mo.) sitting as a potential quarterfinal opponent.

Heading into the national tournament, Corban is riding an 11-game winning streak and hold both the regular season and tournament championship banners for the first time ever.

Having recorded 20-or-more wins for the third straight season, the Warriors have won a school-record twenty-seven games, including a school-record 15 wins in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.

Meanwhile, Sterling (26-5 overall, 16-2 KCAC) is making a return to the national tournament following a one-year hiatus.

The Lady Warriors dropped its last game -- the championship game of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament, 74-58, to Ottawa -- but has won 17 out of its last 19 games, including a 14-game winning streak from December 18th through February 10th.

In national championship play, fifth-year head coach Dave Bale and the Warriors are 0-2 in the past three seasons with losses to Hastings, 96-58, in 2003 and Concordia (Neb.), in 2005.

Corban will be looking to earn its first-ever NAIA national tournament victory this season.

On the other hand, Sterling has advanced to the national tournament ten times prior to this season and holds an overall record of 12-10 all-time, including a 3rd place finish in 2001 following a semifinal loss to Northwestern (Iowa).

Fans can follow the Warriors' journey through the national tournament on the radio at 90.3 FM KWBX.

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