Top Seeds to Meet for Women's Basketball Title

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - It's No. 1 versus No. 2 for the 2023 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Women's Basketball Tournament championship as the top two seeds won their semifinal contests on Friday.

The four-day event is being held at the MeadowView Marriott Convention Center & Conference Resort in Kingsport, Tenn.

Top-seeded Bryan led off the day with a 59-54 win over Tennessee Wesleyan, while No. 2 seed Point dispatched Montreat 55-39.

Since Bryan is receiving an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament for winning the regular-season championship, Point will receive the remaining automatic berth regardless of the outcome of Saturday's title game.

BRYAN 59, TWU 54

Tennessee Wesleyan led 42-38 going into the fourth and led 54-53 following an Anna Crowder layup with 53 second to play. However, Samantha Russell drained a 3-pointer to put Bryan up 56-64 at the 39-second mark. Tennessee Wesleyan had a couple of opportunities to tie or take the lead again, but it missed its final three shots. Meanwhile, Bryan went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line to seal the five-point win.

Kaitlynn Hennessee led Bryan with 18 points.

POINT 55, MONTREAT 39

Point led for the outset and steadily added to its lead en route to the 16-point win. Montreat struggled offensively, scoring less than 10 points in each of the first three quarters.

Mataea Boyd paced Point with 14 points. 

Tournament Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 22
Game 1 - No. 8 Columbia International (16-13) def. No. 9 Kentucky Christian (15-14), 72-62 (box)
Game 2 - No. 7 Bluefield (15-13) def. No. 10 Columbia (10-18), 82-67 (box)
Thursday, Feb. 23
Game 3 - No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (19-8) def. No. 4 Reinhardt (18-11), 65-60 (box)
Game 4 - No. 1 Bryan (26-3) vs. No. 8 Columbia International (16-14), 76-64 (box)
Game 5 - No. 2 Point (21-8) vs. No. 7 Bluefield (15-14), 80-57 (box)
Game 6 - No. 3 Milligan (19-10) vs. No. 6 Montreat (20-9), 60-55 (box)

Friday, Feb. 24
Game 7 - No. 1 Bryan (27-3) def. No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan (19-9), 59-54 (box)
Game 8 - No. 2 Point (22-8) def. No. 6 Montreat (20-10), 55-39 (box)

Saturday, Feb. 25
Game 9 - Championship Game - No. 1 Bryan (27-3) vs. No. 2 Point (22-8), 1 pm

All games will be live-streamed on the AAC Digital Network for free. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students each day. To purchase tickets, click here.