SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. – The Indiana Tech women's basketball team was in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, for the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament on Friday evening, as they took down St. Thomas University (Fla.) 69-39 on the campus of John Brown University.
 
The Warriors got things started in terms of scoring, as Juliana Burris found a soft spot in the paint for the game's opening two points. Tech controlled the game through the opening ten minutes, seeing their lead grow to as much as seven, but the Bobcats had the last say in the frame to cut the lead to 18-15 going into the second quarter. St. Thomas began the second quarter by cutting the Warrior's lead to just one, but the Orange and Black never allowed the Bobcats an opportunity to level the score. Tech maintained control of the game, stretching their lead to double digits for the first time off a triple from Bethany Worm with 3:41 left on the clock in the second quarter, but settled for an eight-point 33-25 lead heading into the midway break. The second half was all Warriors, as the defensive intensity helped hold the Bobcats to just fourteen second-half points. Offensively, the Orange and Black shot 45.2% in the second half as they watched their lead balloon to 30 points by the final buzzer to secure the wire-to-wire victory.
 
Bethany Worm had a big game for Tech, leading all scorers with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Taylor Covington poured in 12 points of her own with 2 rebounds and 3 assists. Korryn Smith and Erika Foy added 11 points apiece, while Foy corralled 7 rebounds and Smith added 4.
 
The Warriors matchup with the hosts of their bracket, John Brown University, in their next contest on Saturday afternoon, starting at 4:00 p.m. CT.