Carroll University Women Enter March Madness on Friday
On Friday, March 1, at 8 pm, the Carroll University women’s basketball team tips off its first game in the NCAA Tournament since 2007, hosting Puget Sound at the Van Male Fieldhouse. This is just the third time in program history that the Pioneers have made it to the “big dance,” and the Carroll community is “buzzing with excitement,” according to Carroll sources.
Carroll earned the right to host the first two rounds of the tournament at home by posting its best season in school history with 23 victories. They have won the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season title and the conference tournament championship for the first time in the same season, leading to their March Madness entry.
The team’s head coach, Lindsay Schultz, is in her eighth season with the Pioneers and has taken them on a remarkable run from a 1-23 record in her first year to this year’s championship team. She was named the CCIW Beth Baker Coach of the Year for her leadership during this record-breaking season.
Junior guard Olivia Rangel is a bright star for the Pioneers, leading the team in points (18.3 per game) and assists (4.9 per game). For her prowess on the court, she was named one of two unanimous First Team All-Conference selections in the CCIW.
The Pioneers are one of six Wisconsin women’s teams that qualified for the tournament this year. The others are UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stout, Ripon College and Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Admission for the games at Carroll University’s Van Male Fieldhouse is $15 for general admission and $10 for senior citizens, students and children. Student tickets are designated for grade school, high school and college students with their student identification. All Carroll students will receive free admission to Friday night’s game with their student ID, courtesy of the Carroll University Student Senate.