After finishing the HAAC regular season at 12-6 in a tie for third place with Central Methodist University, the Raven women's basketball team opens up the 2014 HAAC Tournament as the No. 4 seeding hosted No. 4 seed Missouri Valley College.
Benedictine is hosting its 12th straight HAAC Tournament Quarterfinal game under head coach Chad Folsom.
The Ravens and the Vikings split the regular-season series, with each team winning on the opponents home court. Most recently, Benedictine traveled to Marshall, Mo., on Feb. 23 and earned a 65-58 win over the Vikings. Missouri Valley beat the Ravens inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium back on Jan. 18, 65-59.
GAMEDAY LINKS:
Match up: 4) Benedictine (20-10) vs. 5) Missouri Valley College (18-12) – 7 p.m. – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium, HAAC Quarterfinals
Radio: KAIR 93.7 FM or www.network1sports.com/station/kair
Video: BRSNtv - www.livestream.com/benedictineravensportsnetwork
Livestats (click on the ((w)): Dakstats Livestats
TIP-OFF: The match up between the two schools is the 45th meeting since Benedictine joined the HAAC for the 1992-93 school year with the Ravens holding a 28-16 series lead. ... Benedictine is 9-3 against Missouri Valley since the HAAC moved up to the NAIA Div. I level for the 2008-09 season. ... The 2014 quarterfinal match up marks the first time the two programs have matched up against each other in the HAAC postseason. ... In the head to head match up, the Ravens hold a 124-123 scoring advantage over the Vikings. ... Benedictine has averaged 62 ppg to Missouri Valley's 61.5 ppg. ... Missouri Valley has limited the Ravens to just 28.6 percent from beyond the 3-point arc with Benedictine averaging 6 3-pointers in the head-to-head match up. ... Missouri Valley holds a 45-39 advantage in rebounds per game with the Vikings pulling in a total of 90 rebounds to Benedictine 78. ... Benedictine is minus-3 in the turnover margin, forcing Missouri Valley into a total of 39 turnovers while committing 36. Benedictine outscored Missouri Valley 53-42 over the first half of each outing while the Vikings hold a 81-71 advantage in the second half.
ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY: The Vikings are anchored by first-team All-HAAC selection Gaby Morales. ... Morales leads Missouri Valley at 17.2 ppg and is also the team's leading rebounder at 9.3 per game. ... Morales ranks 18th in NAIA Div. I in blocks (47) and total scoring (517). ... TaLaya Earls was the only other Viking to earn all-conference honors, picking up an honorable mention selection. ... Earls is Missouri Valley's only other double-figure scorer at 10.7 ppg. ... As a team, the Vikings are 12th in NAIA Div. I in turnover margin, averaging 4.3 turnovers less than their opponents. ... They also rank 13th in total offensive rebounds with 1,301.
ABOUT THE RAVENS: The Ravens enter the quarterfinals of the HAAC Tournament needing to win the whole thing to earn a return trip to Frankfort, Ky., and the 2014 NAIA Div. I Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament. ... The Ravens earned three All-HAAC honors with forward Chayla Rutledge earning first-team honors. ... Rutledge leads the Ravens in scoring at 15 ppg while pulling in 4.5 rebounds per game. She averages 45.7 percent from the floor. ... Justice Payne earned third-team honors as Benedictine's second-leading scorer. Through the end of the regular season, she is averaging 12.7 ppg and also leads the team in steals with 50. ... Forward Erin Murphy earned honorable mention honors as well for Benedictine. She is averaging 9.6 ppg and 5.1 rebounds while shooting a team-high 55.3 percent from the floor.
EXTRA POINTS: The winner of this quarterfinal match up will advance to take on the winner of the 1-8 match up on Saturday at 7 p.m. ... That game is between No. 13 Baker University and Evangel University. The Wildcats have already punched their ticket to Nationals as the regular-season HAAC champ.
