A First for Ohio Dominican

Men's and Women's Basketball Teams Head to NAIA Nationals

February 28, 2002 For the first time in school history, both the Ohio Dominican men's and women's basketball teams this year went to the national championships of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The Ohio Dominican women's basketball team's national tournament run ended with a loss to No. 3 seed Hastings College (Neb.), 90-70, in the second round of the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in Sioux City, IA.

It was only the second national tournament appearance for the Ohio Dominican women. Both have come in the last three years under seven-year Head Coach Kate Cummings (125-97).

The men were eliminated after a hard-fought loss to Mid-America Nazarene University (KS) in the first round of the national championship tournament of NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Championship in Point Lookout, MO. The unseeded Ohio Dominican men lost 81-70 to Mid-America, who were the 11th seed and ranked 12th in the country in the latest NAIA Poll.

It was the fourth national tournament appearance for the Ohio Dominican men (1971, '94, '95), but the first under third-year Head Coach Dan Priest (54-40).

Both tournaments were single-elimination and hosted a field of 32 teams.

The women wrapped up their regular season with a 20-10 overall record and finished second in the conference tying a school record with a 17-3 finish. Ohio Dominican won 14 of their last 16 regular season games and recorded their third 20-win season under Cummings. The women went to the finals of the American Mideast Conference tournament, but lost, 65-57, to Shawnee State University. They finished second in the conference.

"We worked really hard and know that we did our best. We had hoped to go farther in the tournament but feel really good about our season," Cummings said.

The Ohio Dominican men concluded their regular season 17-13 overall and 11-7 in the AMC to earn the No. 7 seed in the AMC tournament. It was the third straight winning season and tournament appearance under Priest. The men went to the championship of the tournament but lost to Saint Vincent College, 85-73.