#24/RV Texas Lutheran (23-4, 14-2 SCAC) vs. #18/19 East Texas Baptist (23-4, 8-0 ASC)
NCAA Tournament First Round
Friday, March 7 at 7:15 PM CT
Ornelas Gymnasium | Marshall, Texas
GameDay Quick Facts
LIVE STREAM: The game will be available on ncaa.com.
SERIES: Texas Lutheran trails the all-time series against East Texas Baptist 5-12.
THIS WEEK
As it enters their first game in program history as a ranked team, the No. 24/RV TLU women's basketball team has also secured its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 as the Bulldogs set up to travel to Marshall, Texas for First and Second Round action at Ornelas Gymnasium on the campus of East Texas Baptist. Joining TLU (23-4) and ETBU (23-4) for NCAA competition in Marshall this week are McMurry (21-5) and Cal Lutheran (21-6). On Friday (March 7), the War Hawks and Regals face off in their first-round clash at 4:45 p.m. followed by a 7:15 p.m. meeting between the Bulldogs and Tigers. Winners move on to the NCAA Second Round on Saturday (March 8), with that tip time also set for 7:15 p.m.
NCAA NOTES
• TLU is 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
• This is the Bulldogs' third trip to the NCAA Tournament.
• This is Texas Lutheran's second NCAA Tournament game in Texas, with their last appearance coming at UT-Dallas in the 2019 Tourney, falling in the first round to the Comets, 62-51, in Richardson.
• The last time TLU earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament was 2019 after winning TLU's second SCAC Tournament championship.
• TLU is 2-2 against teams in the 2025 NCAA Tournament field this season.
• TLU is one of three SCAC teams in this year's NCAA bracket. This is the first time since 2008 the SCAC has sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament and first time since 2020 multiple women's teams have represented the conference in the tournament.
IN THE POLLS
Texas Lutheran has received votes in the D3hoops.com and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 Polls for the first time in program history. Entering the tournament, Texas Lutheran is once again receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll while earning their top 25 ranking in program history with a No. 24 ranking in the WBCA Top 25 Poll. Texas Lutheran finished the season ranked #31 in the NCAA Division-III NPI (NCAA Power Index) Rankings that determined the qualifiers for the NCAA Tournament.
QUICK HITS
• Now 23-4 overall, TLU has matched the 2014 squad for the most wins in a single-season in program history.
• At 14-2 in SCAC play, TLU collected its most conference wins in a season since joining the conference in 2013-14.
• Now ranked No. 24 in the nation by the WBCA, the Bulldogs are ranked for the first time in program history.
• With its 12-2 start to this season, the torrid run trumped the 11-3 season turned in by the Bulldogs in 1973-74 and the 11-3 start by the Bulldogs a season ago in the 2023-24 campaign for the best start in program history.
• Texas Lutheran currently ranks 12th in Division-III in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.20).
• TLU is 3-4 against teams currently ranked in the NPI top-50.
• TLU's 8-0 start was the best start to SCAC play for Texas Lutheran since joining the conference in 2013-14.
• Kailee Mulkey (New Braunfels/New Braunfels) has taken over for Savannah Hight as TLU's all-time steals leader in the program's NCAA history (222 career steals). Mulkey also currently ranks eighth in the program's NCAA history in assists and is tied for third in rebounds while ranking sixth all-time regardless of era in points scored (1,179).
• Despite missing games due to illness, Lauren Sansano (San Antonio/FEAST), the only Bulldog to earn SCAC Player of the Week honors this season, is the Bulldogs second leading scorer (11.9) and ranks fourth in the SCAC in field goal percentage (52.8) and fifth in assists per game (3.6).
• The two ranked wins over Colorado College are the most in a single-season in program history.
• Angelina Sotelo (San Marcos/San Marcos) hit at least one 3-pointer in all but five games this season.
• TLU is 13-0 this season when holding opponents under 60.
SCAC CHAMPS
TLU claimed its third SCAC Tournament championship, six years after winning its last. having earned i the No. 2 seed in the 2024 bracket. The Bulldogs claimed their second win of the season over Ozarks with a 63-55 victory in overtime in the quarterfinals before squaring off against then-No.21 Colorado College for the second time in their semifinal bout. TLU pushed past the Tigers to win it 63-57 in regulation and earn a place in the conference tournament final for the fourth time in program history. Up against the three-seed, rival Trinity, TLU led for all but 41 seconds in a commanding performance from the Bulldogs in a 73-63 championship victory. Kailee Mulkey who scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for TLU in the final, was named the SCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Lauren Sansano, who had 18 for TLU in the semifinal vs. Colorado College, and Zaria Solis, who had a 17 point, 13 rebound double double in the quarterfinal were named to the SCAC All-Tournament Team.
BATTLING ADVERSITY
The Bulldogs have faced adversity with multiple players suffering injuries this season. This season the Bulldogs have had 84 missed games by rotational players. Four players on the Bulldogs roster suffered season ending injuries.
ON THE GLASS
The Bulldogs are 19-1 this season when they out rebound their opponent. Texas Lutheran has been effective on the offensive glass as they rank second in the SCAC in rebounds per game (41.85). Forward Sarahi Jones (Los Fresnos/Los Fresnos) ranks fifth in the SCAC in rebounds, averaging 8.6 per game and ranks 25th in Division-III averaging 7.7 defensive rebounds per game. Texas Lutheran has won the offensive glass in 15 games this season.
PLENTY OF BULLDOGS HONORED BY SCAC: Kailee Mulkey was selected to the All-SCAC First Team, Lauren Sansano was named a member of the All-SCAC Second Team and the duo of Sarahi Jones and Angelina Sotelo earned All-SCAC Honorable Mention. Zaria Solis (Burnet/Burnet) earned a selection to the SCAC All-Freshman Team.
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