By Matthew Montoya
With the regular season now completed, let’s see how both teams stack up on the road to the Southland Conference Tournament.
Women’s Team
The UIW women’s team has been considered a playoff contender since the start of the season. They finished 17-12 overall and 12-8 in conference play, securing the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Because of their standing in the regular season, they have received a bye and will play the winner of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Northwestern State on Tuesday, March 11, at 11 a.m. CT.
Players like Myra Bell, Destiny Whitwaker and Jorja Elliott have been key contributors, proving why this team remains a threat as the postseason begins.
Men’s Team
The UIW men’s team has had a very different journey. Struggling through the middle of the season, they were not widely considered a playoff team as losses piled up. However, they turned their season around by winning five of their last seven games, finishing 17-16 overall and 9-11 in conference play to clinch the No. 7 seed.
Jalin Anderson, Jayden Williams and Davion Bailey were instrumental in leading the Cardinals to their first playoff berth in nine years. They will face Southeastern Louisiana on Sunday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Playoff Experience
The UIW women’s team is no stranger to postseason play, making the tournament every season since 2018-19. This marks their seventh straight appearance, and they know how to win, having captured the Southland Conference Championship in 2022. They are looking to claim the title for the second time in four years.
The men’s team, on the other hand, is in unfamiliar territory. This is their first postseason appearance with a winning record since 2015-16, and they have no prior playoff success. Some may expect an early exit, but given their late-season surge, they could be a dangerous underdog in the tournament.
For the first time ever—excluding 2020, when all teams in the conference qualified—both the UIW men’s and women’s teams will compete in the Southland Conference Tournament. Best of luck to both teams as they chase a championship.
