This trip to Newman Elementary came complete with a red-carpet entrance (on a literal red carpet), pintsized students lining the pathway into the gym, cheering and dishing out high fives.
The Mustangs were equally delighted Thursday to return to the Billings, Montana, school they visited a year ago as part of the NAIA's "Teaming Up for Character Events." But it's safe to say the venture was more enjoyable coming after a win. Â
"Both years were fun," said guard
Hannah Ostrom, a member of last year's team that lost in the first round of nationals before visiting Newman for mentorship and games. "But it was definitely a lot better to tell the kids that we were still playing for a national championship."
Master's beat the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Wednesday to advance to the NAIA Division 1 round of 16 for the third time in four years.
The Mustangs will play third-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene (KS) at 11:30 a.m. PST on Friday inside Rimrock Auto Arena. A win would send second-seeded Master's (27-6) to the round of eight for the second time in program history.
Standing in the way is a program that's been to this point and beyond in recent years.
MidAmerica Nazarene (25-5), ranked No. 10 in the most recent top 25, won the national title in 2016 and is playing in the round of 16 for the fifth time in six years. Â
The Pioneers advanced to the round of eight in 2016 and 2018. More relevant: MidAmerica Nazarene is one of the NAIA's best teams at rebounding and protecting the rim.
Those aspects of the operation start with 6-foot-3 forward Whitney Moia, who pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots in 15 minutes in that 2016 national final as a freshman.
As a senior, Moia was named the 2019 Heart of America Athletic Conference Defense Player of the Year after averaging 11.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks, both marks that place her among the top 10 nationally.
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Jovana Jovovic, a 6-1 senior, averages a team-high 18.6 points for the Pioneers, who finished second by one game in conference behind No. 9-ranked William Penn.
Junior guard Kechelle Figueroa averages 16.8 points and 5.4 assists for a team that makes more than eight three-pointers a game.
"They shoot it extremely well, have great post play and have the experience necessary to succeed at nationals," said TMU coach
Dan Waldeck. "They are extremely balanced, well coached and play with a great pace."
What the Pioneers do maybe better than anything else is keep the ball from going in the basket. MidAmerica Nazarene ranks first nationally in three-point defense, limiting opponents to 24% from beyond the arc.
The Pioneers have held opponents to 32% overall from the field.
The Mustangs also hang their hats on defense, pointing to what could be another low scoring affair in this tournament.
Master's limited Science and Arts to 28% from the floor in Wednesday's 54-40 win.
The biggest key Friday?
"Our ability to limit their dynamic scorers," Waldeck said. "They are incredibly talented and explosive from all over the court, so we'll need to be focused on helping and rotating, and we'll need to rebound much better as a team."
Guard
Jamilee Iddings noticed the same things when the Mustangs hung around after their win to watch MidAmerica beat No. 24-ranked Xavier (LA) 72-65.
The Pioneers led by as many as 17 in the first half, but Xavier made things interesting by cutting the deficit to single digits in the closing minutes.
 "They have really talented scorers," Iddings said of the Pioneers. "They have a handful of guards who are really good three-point shooters and who let it fly from deep, so we have to stay aware of them.
"They also have strong post play, so we have to stay disciplined."
Every game of the tournament is live streamed at NAIA.org. Single game passes can be purchased for $9.95.
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