KANSAS City, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced the teams and bracket for the 2024 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship First Round presented by Ballogy. The 64-team bracket will begin with the first and second rounds at host sites nationwide on March 15-16. The 2024 NAIA second round winners will meet in Sioux City, Iowa, at the NAIA National Championship final site presented by Bomgaars and Sterling. The 43^rd annual championship occurs at the Tyson Events Center from March 21-22.

For the first time in program history, the Marian women's basketball team is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament, and will host the NAIA First and Second Round for the fourth consecutive year. 

This year's first round field includes 37 automatic qualifiers and 27 at-large selections. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title or regular season championship, finished runner-up at the conference tournament or were otherwise selected by the conference. The NAIA Women's Basketball National Selection Committee determined the at-large bids. The selection committee consists of one representative from each geographical area and six at-large members consisting of coaches and administrators from around the country.

MARIAN PROFILE
Marian is the No. 1 overall seed in the NAIA National Tournament, and enter the NAIA First Round as winners' of 28 consecutive games, establishing program records for wins in a season and consecutive wins. Marian is 30-1 overall this season, and enter the NAIA Tournament as an automatic qualifier as winners of the Crossroads League Regular Season and Tournament. The Knights are led by leading scorer and Crossroads League Player of the Year Ella Collier and Defensive Player of the Year Abbey McNally, along with other All-Crossroads League honorees in Kinnidy Garrard, Allison Bosse, Aliyah Evans, and Taima Perryman.

PIKEVILLE PROFILE
Pikeville will be the No. 8 seed in the quadrant and enters with a 24-7 overall record on the season, taking an automatic bid as the winner of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament, winning in double-overtime over Reinhardt. Pikeville is making their ninth NAIA Tournament appearance, and are led by five All-AAC Honorees, including first team recipients Morgan Stamper and Allie Stone. Stamper averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds per game, and Stone averages 20.3 points per game. 

STEPHENS PROFILE
The Stephens Stars are the No. 9 seed in the quadrant, and hold a record of 22-7 overall. The Stars last played in the American Midwest Conference Semifinals, and have a win over then No. 2 Central Methodist under their belts this season. The Stars were the winners of the American Midwest Conference earning an at-large to the tournament, and are led by Savanna "Chu" Crockett, who was named the AMC Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year. Crockett averages 13.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game. 

FLORIDA NATIONAL PROFILE
Florida National will be the No. 16 seed and will take on Marian in the NAIA Tournament First Round. Florida National is 15-11 overall on the season, and have qualified for the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in their program history. Florida National earned their automatic bid as the Continental Athletic Conference Tournament Runner-Up. The Conquistadors are led by their pair of CAC All-Tournament Team honorees Janelisse Marty Marrero and Jullie Ruiz Paneto. 

Tickets will go on sale by Monday, March 11. More information on live streaming, stats, and matchups will come in the coming days. Marian will take on Florida National to open the NAIA Tournament First Round in Indianapolis, with tip slated for 5:00 p.m. Pikeville and Stephens will play 30 minutes following the conclusion of Marian and Florida National, and the NAIA Tournament Second Round is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 16. 

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