MARSHALL, Texas - For the first time in program history, no. 18/19 East Texas Baptist University is hosting the NCAA Division III Nationanal Tournament for women's basketball.

Below are notes for the game vs. Texas Lutheran University on Friday night.
 

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OPPONENT
Texas Lutheran
Series:  ETBU leads the series, 12-5
Last Meeting: ETBU 71, TLU 52 (Nov. 16, 2018)
 
TLU has won three out of the last five meetings dating back to the mid-2010s. They won in 2015, 82-79, in overtime in Seguin and then twice in 2016 at neutral sites, 67-66, and 66-56. ETBU has taken the last two meetings, 80-55, in 2017, and 71-52, in 2018. TLU is a former American Southwest Conference opponent.
 

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NCAA TOURNAMENT
This is ETBU's third NCAA Tournament appearance in seven seasons. Their first appearance came in 2017-18 after winning the ASC Tournament. In the 2021-22, they received an at-large bid for their second time in the tournament. This year, ETBU gained an automatic bid after winning the ASC Tournament. ETBU is 2-0 in the first round and 1-1 in the second round.
 
ETBU is 4-2 in the NCAA Tournament making the Elite Eight in 2018 and second round in 2022. ETBU surprised the nation with their run in 2018 after winning the ASC Tournament as the no. 3 seed. They defeated Whitman College, 65-59, in the first round and then host Texas Dallas, 64-51, to advance to the Sweet 16. In Waverly, Iowa, ETBU opened up shocking no. 6 St. Thomas (Minn.), 61-58, in overtime making to the Elite Eight. Facing host no. 2 Wartburg, ETBU's comeback in the fourth quarter fell short to the host, 65-61, in the Elite Eight.
 
The 2022 season brought two games in Memphis, Tenn., at Rhodes College. ETBU opened with a 65-53 win over host no. 19 Rhodes College. They then fell in the second round to no. 21 Mary Hardin-Baylor, 75-57.
 
NCAA Results (4-2)
March 5, 2021                  #19 UMHB 75, ETBU 57                 Memphis, TN – 2^nd Round
March 4, 2021                  ETBU 65, #19 Rhodes 53               Memphis, TN – 1^st Round
March 10, 2018                #2 Wartburg 65, ETBU 61             Waverly, IA – Elite Eight
March 9, 2018                  ETBU 61, #6 St. Thomas 58 OT    Waverly, IA – Sweet 16
March 3, 2018                  ETBU 64, Texas Dallas 51              Richardson, TX – 2^nd Round
March 2, 2018                  ETBU 65, Whitman 59                   Richardson, TX – 1^st Round
 

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STAYING AT HOME
For the first time in program history, ETBU is hosting the NCAA Tournament in Ornelas Gym. ETBU was awarded the first and second round games for their NPI ranking of 12^th as two Texas programs and a California team travel to Marshall. SCAC teams McMurry University and Texas Lutheran and SCIAC champion California Lutheran were selected to come to Ornelas Gym.
 
ETBU is undefeated at home in 2024-25 at 12-0 and is 2-0 in post season in Ornelas Gym. Last week, ETBU defeated LeTourneau, 79-56, in the ASC Tournament Semi-Final and then held off Hardin-Simmons University, 78-67, in the championship game.
 

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RANKED OPPONENTS IN 2024-25
ETBU will play their fourth ranked team this season and has seen five teams that are ranked now. ETBU played unranked Whitman College on Nov. 16 in Washington falling, 72-51. Whitman is now ranked fifth in the NPI and is no. 6/7 in the two other D3 polls. On December 18, ETBU earned their biggest program win over a ranked opponent with a 64-47 victory over no. 2 Wartburg. After Christmas, ETBU fell to no. 3 Illinois Wesley, 66-57, in Belton, and then upset no. 14 Hardin-Simmons on Jan. 16 in Marshall, 73-66. TLU will be the fourth game this season that ETBU takes on a ranked opponent.
 
Whitman College 72, ETBU 51                   unranked when played but now no. 5
ETBU 64, #2 Wartburg 47
#3 Illinois Wesleyan 66, ETBU 57
ETBU 73, #14 Hardin-Simmons 66
 

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ASC CHAMPIONS
It was historic game on Saturday in Ornelas Gym as ETBU won their second ASC Tournament Championship with a 78-67 win over Hardin-Simmons. It was the third time ETBU played the Cowgirls this season and held off their late rally for the win. ETBU won the championship in 2018 under then first year head coach Rusty Rainbolt. It was the third time in four years that ETBU played for an ASC Tournament Championship falling in 2021 and 2023.
 
Payton Hicks was named the ASC Tournament Most Outstanding Player as Madison Hurta and Tiffany Bickford were on the All-Tournament team.