ASHLAND, Ohio. – The Trevecca Nazarene University women's basketball team (21-9) reached the 2023 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship Finals today, facing NCAA Division II No. 1 Ashland University (31-0) on their home court. The top-seeded Eagles fought off multiple runs by the Trojans to settle for an 18-point (83-65) victory.

Keeley Carter and Emma Palmer were selected to the Great Midwest All-Tournament Team. Over the three tournament games, Carter averaged 18.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. Palmer averaged 16.7 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 72% (23-32) from the field.

With the win, Ashland receives the Great Midwest automatic-qualifier bid to the NCAA Championships. The Trojans certainly have made their case to be included in the eight-team NCAA Midwest Regional that starts next week, likely also at Ashland. Trevecca entered the Great Midwest Tournament with the No. 6 ranking in the final region ranking then knocked off fifth-ranked KWC in the semifinals. The NCAA D2 Selection Show is Sunday at 9:30 PM (CT).

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The Trojans, who were picked 12th of 13 teams in the G-MAC preseason coaches poll, finished third in the regular season and then upset second-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan, 58-48, in the semifinals on Friday to advance to the championship game. Trevecca defeated Walsh at Trojan Fieldhouse on Tuesday in the Great Midwest Quarterfinals.

It is the third time the Trojans have appeared in the Great Midwest finals, but the first time the Trojans have done so with a chance to advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional.

The Trojans, despite falling by 18, held up well against the Eagles compared to most teams that took on Ashland this season. Only seven of their 31 games saw their opponent score more than the 65 points Trevecca put on the scoreboard against them today. Defensively, only 11 opponents have held the Eagles below their 83 points today. The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 26.5 points per game this year.

THE SERIES

The Trojans are 0-4 versus Ashland University all-time but had their best result against the national power. Ashland won the regular season meeting earlier this season, 83-50, in Ohio on December 19, 2022. The other two all-time meetings were last year when the Eagles beat Trevecca 86-41 (2/10/2022) and 106-55 (1/31/2-22). The Eagles had a 42.6 margin of victory over the Trojans in the first three meetings. Ashland has won two national titles and was the runner-up in two other seasons in the last 11 years. They were also 31-0 going into the 2020 postseason which was interrupted by COVID.

THE FLOW

Ashland came out on fire and controlled the game's first three minutes leading 9-0 with 7:07 left in the first frame. The Eagles led 12-2 with 5:49 left, but, as they have done all year, the Trojans cut away at any deficit. With a 7-3 run, TNU pulled to within six (15-9) with 2:06 left in the first quarter. Ashland led after one quarter, 18-11.

Ashland scored five straight to begin the second quarter for a 23-11 advantage with 8:21 left in the half. A flurry of Trojan layups cut it to 26-19 with 5:34 on the clock. A Bayleigh Carmichel three brought the Trojans within seven (29-22) of Ashland again with 4:33 left. It was the Eagle's turn to flex and a 13-2 run sent them into halftime up 18 (42-24).

After an AU basket to open the third (44-24), the Trojans made yet another run typical of their third-quarter efforts all year. Another 7-3 surge, led by five Keeley Carter points, preceded by an 8-0 run cut the margin to 11 (56-45) with 4:25 left in the quarter. TNU had the ball with a chance to get the game to single digits, but the Eagles regained their composure and pulled away again and the lead was 20 at the end of the third quarter.

After the Eagle lead reached 22 (67-45), Trevecca rallied again pulling to within 16 (72-56) with 5:55 left. They settled for an 18-point victory.

THE PLAYERS

Emma Palmer led the Trojans with 22 points and five rebounds. The second-team all-conference performer hit 9-13 from the field. Keeley Carter scored 17 and grabbed six rebounds. Faith Wilken added 14 points with eight rebounds and three assists.

THE TEAMS

The Trojans shot 41.9% (26-62) from the floor, 29.4% (5-17) from three-point range, and 72.7% (8-11) from the free-throw line. The Trojans outrebounded the Eagles 42-30. The Eagles connected on 17-of-35 three-pointers and 12-14 from the line.

Trevecca dominated in the paint 42-18, but Ashland's bench outscored Trevecca's 24-4.

TREVECCA GREAT MIDWEST HISTORY

TREVECCA GREAT MIDWEST POSTSEASON HISTORY

2012-13

In the very first season of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Trojans won the regular season title and hosted the first championships at Trojan Fieldhouse. Trevecca beat Central State in the semifinals before falling to Urbana in the championship. 

2013-14

In year two of the Great Midwest Championships, Trevecca again won the regular season and earned host honors of the championships. Trevecca again defeated Central State in the tournament opener, this time in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals, Trevecca defeated Ursuline. Kentucky Wesleyan knocked off Trevecca in the championship. 

2014-2015

Trevecca earned the second seed at the G-MAC Championships hosted by Cedarville. Trevecca received a bye in the quarterfinals but lost to third-seeded Kentucky Wesleyan in the semifinals. 

2015-16

Trevecca entered the Great Midwest Championships as the fifth seed and upset Davis & Elkins in the quarterfinals before falling to top-seeded Ursuline in the semifinals. 

2018-19

Trevecca reached the postseason championships for the first time in three years as the eighth seed. Top-seed Walsh ended the Trojan's season in the quarterfinals. 

2020-21

After a year away, the Trojans returned to the Great Midwest Championships as the seventh seed. The second-seeded KWC Panthers defeated the Trojans in the quarterfinals.

UP NEXT 

The team is anticipating an invitation to the NCAA Division II Championships during the selection show on Sunday night at 9:30 PM (CT).

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The NCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament features 64 teams on a quest for the highly sought-after DII women's basketball national championship trophy.

Twenty-three teams get into the bracket by winning their respective conference tournaments and getting an automatic bid. Those 23 conferences are split up into eight regions. 

Trevecca is in the Midwest Region which is made up of the GLIAC, GLVC, the Great Midwest, and an independent team.

Once the conference tournaments are complete and the 23 automatic bids are resolved, the DII women's basketball selection committee selects the remaining 40 teams. The final weekly region ranking helps inform who will make the final eight in each region.

Each team is required to have competed against at least 22 DII women's basketball programs, 18 of which need to be in-region. If the program meets those qualifications, the committee considers the following:

DII in-region winning percentage

Overall DII winning percentage

Strength of schedule against DII programs

Head-to-head wins and losses against DII programs

Results against common DII opponents

In-region RPI 

Performance indicator

Record vs. ranked teams

Once the committee confirms the 40 at-large teams, the 64-team bracket is announced in the Selection Show on NCAA.com

MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS

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