FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's basketball team kicked off the NAIA National Tournament with a trip across town to take on the host of the Fort Wayne pod and one of the No. 3 seeds in the bracket, Saint Francis in the First Round. In what turned out to be a dramatic close to the contest, the Warriors held on to upset the top seed of the pod and advance to the second round, winning 64-60.
 
After an unconventional start to the contest, in which the Warriors took a 1-0 lead before the opening tip due to a technical foul, Tech flew out of the gate, opening the contest on a 10-2 run across the first three minutes. The hosts responded as expected and chipped their way back into the game, cutting the Warriors lead to three points, 15-12 heading into the second quarter. The Cougars scored the opening bucket in the second quarter which cut the lead to one, but back-to-back triples from the Warriors stretched their lead right back to seven. Tech's lead hovered around that margin throughout the remainder of the half, extending to as much as 11 points before taking a nine-point, 36-27, lead into the break.
 
Out of the break, the Cougars cut into the lead, shrinking the margin to four points, but once again, the Warriors responded when needed and stretched their advantage back up to nine points heading into the fourth quarter. Starting the fourth quarter, Tech matched their largest lead of the contest, 11, off a lay-in from Genevieve Decker. Shortly after, the Cougars fought their way back into the contest with a 7-0 run which cut the Warriors lead to three. With 2:24 left on the clock, the hosts converted an and-one which accounted for their first tie and, after the free throw, lead of the contest. Decker answered the call retaking the lead for Tech on the next possession, but that lead was short-lived as the hosts found a soft spot in the post for two points, retaking a one-point lead. The Warriors' next possession went down to the wire and after a long deliberation for replay assistance, a triple from Taylor Covington was confirmed to be released before the shot clock expired, giving the Warriors a 62-60 lead with 54 seconds left. Having two chances at a tie or lead, the Cougars were unable to convert on either, which led to Covington sealing the contest with a pair of free throws with three seconds left to advance to the next round.
 
Taylor Covington led the Warriors with 21 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Genevieve Decker posted a double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and one assist. Korryn Smith added 11 points, two rebounds, and one assist.
 
The Warriors advance to the second round where they will face the winner of the Rio Grande vs Stillman game. Tip-off of the second round is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Hutzell Athletic Center at Saint Francis.