Lewiston, Idaho | March 11, 2026 — History continues for the Nelson University Lady Lions.
After delivering one of the best seasons in program history, the Lady Lions now turn their focus to the national stage as they prepare to face No. 15 Montana Tech in the First Round of the NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament on Friday at 7:30 PM inside the P1FCU Activity Center in Lewiston, Idaho.
Fans can watch the game live at:
Watch: https://urbanedgenetwork.net/?school=cascade-collegiate-conference
Live Stats: https://godiggers.com/sidearmstats/wbball/summary
The matchup marks a significant milestone for Nelson Women's Basketball, as the Lady Lions return to the national tournament for only the second time in program history and the first since 2009. The Lady Lions enter the national tournament riding momentum from a historic campaign that saw Nelson post the best record in program history while competing at the top of the Sooner Athletic Conference. Head coach Michael Sons, recently named Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Coach of the Year, has guided Nelson through a season defined by resilience, chemistry, and selflessness. His leadership helped shape a team that consistently rose to the moment against elite competition.
Nelson's success this season was also reflected in postseason honors, with multiple Lady Lions earning All-Sooner Athletic Conference selections, including:
The group's collective effort helped establish Nelson as one of the most balanced and dangerous teams in the conference throughout the year.
Standing across the court Friday will be Montana Tech, the Frontier Conference champion and the No. 15 ranked team in the nation. The Orediggers have been one of the most consistent programs in the NAIA this season, finishing near the top of the Frontier Conference standings with a strong overall record and a reputation for physical defense and efficient scoring.
The winner of Friday's first-round matchup will advance to the NAIA Second Round on March 14, continuing the journey toward the national championship in Sioux City, Iowa. For the Lady Lions, the moment represents more than just a game, for it is an opportunity to build on a season that has already rewritten the program record books. Now, Nelson steps onto the national stage with a chance to add another chapter to a historic year. And the Lady Lions believe their story is far from finished.
Nelson University (formerly SA GU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-NELSON.
