MAYVILLE, N.D. – On Wednesday evening, the first-round opponent for the 2020 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament was revealed to the Mayville State women's basketball team. The team and a group of Comet fans watched as it was announced that the Comets would be a five seed in next week's national tournament.
Mayville State, who is ranked 17^th in the nation, makes its first tournament appearance since 2015 when it opens play on March 11 against Kansas Wesleyan, who is making their second straight appearance in the national tournament.
"We are excited for the opportunity to represent Mayville State at the national tournament," Comets head coach Dennis Hutter said.
When asked about where the team was seeded, Hutter alluded to the fact that they're right where they wanted to be.
Mayville State enters the national tournament with a 25-5 record and is led by a core group of nine seniors, who will don the blue and white when the team hits the floor Wednesday at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa.
Mayville State is led by Kylee Heurung, who comes into the tournament averaging 15 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game for the Comets. Two other Comets are averaging double-figures in the scoring column, including Claire Blascziek, who has a scoring average of 13.1 points per game, and Nicole Bunting, who is averaging 12.7 points per game for the NSAA champion Comets.
The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, come into the national tournament with a 25-6 record.
The Coyotes are led by Amanda Hill, who averages 15.3 points per game. Three other Coyotes average double-digits in scoring, including Kelcey Hinz, who averages a double-double with 15.1 points per game and 11.2 rebounds per game. Courtney Heinen averages 13.6 points per game, while Haleigh Bradford averages 10.1 points per game.
"It's exciting now that we have an opponent to play for," Hutter said.
The Comets and Coyotes will square off at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11 in Sioux City, Iowa at the Tyson Events Center.