HELENA, Mont. – The undefeated and 25th-ranked Carroll College women's basketball team heads to Jackson, Tenn., for the Jackson Rotary Classic, a tournament of 14 of the top 25 teams in NAIA DI, held at the Oman Arena, the former home of the NAIA DI National Championship.
 
The Saints are 6-0 after a 3-0 weekend at the Frontier Las Vegas Shootout. Carroll opens the classic against No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.) Friday morning before playing No. 20 Columbia (Mo.) Saturday morning.
 
"We are really looking forward to this weekend and are humbled to be a part of the Jackson Rotary Classic," head coach Rachelle Sayers said. "Fourteen of the best teams in NAIA will be represented.  It is basically a pre-national tournament.  We are excited about the opportunity to play Cumberland and Columbia, both will be very challenging for us."
 
Cassidy Hashley is reining Frontier Conference Player of the Week leads the Carroll attack that is among the top-10 in the country in rebound margin, blocks, defensive rebounds and total rebounds.
 
Hashley scores 14.8 points and 11.7 rebounds per game but three other Saints score more than 11 points per game.
 
Cumberland is 7-0 on the year and is the best defensive field goal percentage team in NAIA DI, holding opponents to .278 from the field.
 
Nicole Bowers leads the Phoenix with 17.14 points and 15.14 rebounds per game. Two other Cumberland players average in double figures.
 
Columbia enters the tournament with a 4-1 record. Jordan Alford and Morgan Brandt lead the Cougars, averaging more than 15 points per games, two other players average double figures.
 
Frontier Conference teams MSU-Northern and the University of Great Falls will also play in the Classic. The tournament atmosphere will be very similar to the NAIA Championship, including game times. The Saints will play 9:30 a.m. MST Friday and 7:30 a.m. MST Saturday.
 
"It will be nice to see what the competition field looks like," Sayers said. "If we are fortunate to get back to the national tourney this year, it is a huge advantage to have seen some of these teams.  Having three teams represent the Frontier Conference is also a great opportunity for our conference as well as some of our players to get noticed nationally.  We have had the most teams represented at the national tourney for the last few years so it is very important that we all go out there and have a good showing."
 
After the difficult opponents, Carroll must overcome an exhausting travel schedule that includes back-to-back 1000-mile plus trips. The Saints also played three games in three days in Las Vegas against very physical opponents.
 
"We are coming off a very tough and tiring three-game swing in Las Vegas but by Friday I know our players will be fresh and ready to compete," Sayers said.
 
Tournament organizers scheduled an opportunity for all of the teams that made the trek before Thanksgiving Day to serve the people of Jackson and participate in a Thanksgiving meal.
 
"We have an opportunity to serve Thanksgiving meals at the Regional Inter-Faith Association, which is the meaning of Thanksgiving," Sayers said. "It will be a great opportunity for our players to serve and be reminded what this holiday is about. They will miss being home with their families, but this is going to be an amazing experience for them on and off the court."
 
Live video will be available on a pay per view basis via the Campbellsville University Athletics Website. Live stats are available via Dakstats.