Basketball makes history as they move toward the national tournament

Nick+Parker%2C+business+junior%2C+races+to+the+hoop+during+practice+on+March+10.+The+Wolf+Pack+take+on+the+William+Penn+University+Statesmen+on+Wednesday%2C+March+15+at+8%3A00+p.m.+at+Municipal+Auditorium+in+Kansas+City%2C+Missouri.+Photo+credit%3A+Osama+Ayyad

Nick Parker, business junior, races to the hoop during practice on March 10. The Wolf Pack take on the William Penn University Statesmen on Wednesday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo credit: Osama Ayyad

Andres Fuentes

Both the women and men basketball teams will be featured in the NAIA National Championship tournament, marking this season as one of the best in Loyola history.

The women’s squad will be making its fourth straight appearance in the tournament as the No. 6 seed this year. They will face off against No. 3 Montana State University-Northern out of the Frontier Conference.

MSU-Northern ranks third in the NAIA in total rebound defense and fourth in scoring defense per game. They also have the leading scorer in the Frontier Conference in Natalee Faupel (17.37 points per game).

The Wolf Pack will venture to Billings, Montana to face off in the first round. The game is set for March 16 at 9 p.m.

The men’s team breaks a 71-year drought as they make their way to the tournament.

Loyola received the No. 8 seed and will face off against No. 2 William Penn in the first round.

The men’s team has not been represented at NAIA D1 Championship since 1946.

William Penn leads the nation in both rebounding and scoring. They come to the tournament fresh off their conference championship win.

The game will take place on Wednesday at 8:15 PM in Kansas City, Missouri.

This is the first time in school history where both teams will be playing in the Championships at the same time.