Marah Rice of Union College headed to NAIA National Tournament

2012 Mar 2

Marah Rice of Scottsville, Ky. and the rest of the Union College women's basketball team will be competing at the NAIA Women's Basketball Division II National Championship on March 7-13 in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Lady Bulldogs (25-7 overall) are ranked No. 21 in the nation and will open play against Jamestown (N.D.) on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. central in the tournament's first game.

On the season, Rice is averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.

Union qualified for the tournament by winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament. The Lady Bulldogs defeated host and No. 1 seed Tennessee Wesleyan 55-50 on Feb. 27 to capture the championship and the automatic berth.

This marks the fourth time Union has won the AAC Tournament. This is also the fourth time the Lady Bulldogs will participate in the national tournament, the first since 2008.

"For me, I've been there before. What I'm most happy about is that our players, especially our seniors, are getting to compete at the national tournament," said Union head coach Tim Curry. "(Going to nationals) will make all the blood, sweat and tears they poured out all year worth it."