Kansas City, MO – For the sixth consecutive season, the University of the Cumberlands women's basketball has qualified for the 2026 NAIA National Tournament, the national office announced Thursday night.  The Patriots garnered an at-large berth as this marks UC's 20^th appearance in the NAIA Tournament.
 
The Patriots earned the seventh-seed in the Naismith Quadrant, where they will face tenth-seed Indiana Wesleyan in the First Round on Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m. in Rio Grande, OH.  Cumberlands will travel for the NAIA First and Second Round for the first time since the 2022-23 season, when they advanced to the Final Site.  Cumberlands enters the NAIA Tournament ranked 30^th  in the RPI, while holding the fifth strongest schedule in the NAIA.
 
The Patriots are 19-11 overall this year but have won two of their last three games, knocking off #11 Lindsey Wilson twice.  UC is averaging 76.0 points per game this season and is averaging 46.4 rebounds per game, which ranks sixth in the NAIA.  UC also has the second-best rebounding margin in the country at 15.6. 
 
The Patriots are led by MSC First Team All-Conference selection Joy Kendrick.  Kendrick is averaging 16.9 ppg, which ranks fourth in the MSC, to go along with hitting 43.0% from behind-the-arc.  The Albany, GA native is averaging 19.7 ppg over the past seven games and netted her 1,000 career point in the conference semifinals against Freed-Hardeman.  Zaram Fredricks has had a breakout season with 334 rebounds and a program record 71 blocks.  She is currently sixth in the NAIA for blocks in a season and fifth for rebounds.  Lakin Burke is averaging 10.1 ppg to go along with 7.1 rebounds per game this season.
 
Indiana Wesleyan earned the 10^th-seed after earning an At-Large berth into the National Tournament.  The Wildcats have compiled a 17-13 record, including a 10-8 mark in conference play.  Indiana Wesleyan is averaging 68.2 points per game and converted 31.2% from behind-the-arc.  IWU is ranked seventh in the NAIA limiting  opponents to 8.2 offensive rebounds per game.
 
The other side of the Rio Grande bracket features #2 Rio Grande taking on #15 Rochester Christian.  Rio Grande earned an automatic berth as the River States Conference regular season and tournament champion, while Rochester Christian was the tournament champion out of the WHAC.
 
The winner of the two first round games will meet in the second round of the tournament to be played on Saturday, March 14, at 7 p.m.
 
In total six teams from the Mid-South Conference qualified for the 2026 NAIA National Tournament.
 
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