JACKSON, Tenn. — March 14, 2011 — 51社区鈥檚 Lady Bulldogs will begin their national title defense when the 2011 NAIA Division I Basketball Championship tournament begins March 16.
The Lady Bulldogs, the tournament鈥檚 top seed, will play Avila (Mo.) University in the first round at 8 p.m. March 16. Tickets for the game at Oman Arena in Jackson will be available at Union Station March 15 at a discounted price for Union students, faculty and staff.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, earned an 11-seed in the men鈥檚 tournament in Kansas City, Mo., and will play Carroll (Mont.) at 10:30 p.m. March 16.
Union鈥檚 women enter the tournament with a 31-1 record and riding an eight-game winning streak. Making their 22nd appearance in the national tournament and 20th consecutive appearance (both NAIA records), the Lady Bulldogs are the NAIA leader in national tournament wins with 59.
The Lady Bulldogs have won the national title four times in the last six years.
The Bulldogs enter their tournament with a 26-6 record. Union is making its 14th national tournament appearance and third straight. The Bulldogs鈥� best finish was a quarterfinal appearance in 1999 and 2007.