MCKENZIE, Tenn. -Crisp Arena will welcome an impressive collection of women's basketball programs Thursday and Friday when Bethel University hosts the annual Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Women's Basketball Classic.
Thursday's action begins at noon with Campbellsville facing College of the Ozarks, followed by Bethel meeting Williams Baptist at 2 p.m. Friday's schedule features Williams Baptist against Campbellsville at noon and Bethel against College of the Ozarks at 2 p.m. All times are Central.
The four-team field brings national credentials to McKenzie. Bethel enters the season ranked No. 4 in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll; Campbellsville is No.8. Much is expected of the College of the Ozarks (20) and Williams Baptist (RV) as both are coming off excellent seasons.
Thursday's opener matches Campbellsville's established NAIA tradition against a College of the Ozarks program coming off a championship season of its own.
The Campbellsville Lady Tigers, members of the Mid-South Conference, finished 25-8 last season and advanced to the NAIA national quarterfinals. Campbellsville defeated Bryan, LSU Shreveport, and Spring Arbor during its tournament run before falling to eventual national champion Marian.
Head coach Ginger High Colvin's program returns junior guard Dea Bradley, a Third Team NAIA All-American last season. Campbellsville's postseason tradition includes 34 appearances in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship, underscoring the experience and expectations surrounding the Lady Tigers.
College of the Ozarks, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, finished 25-11 a year ago. The Lady Bobcats compete in the Sooner Athletic Conference and reached the second round of the NAIA tournament after defeating Eastern Oregon 82-67. Their NAIA run ended against Dakota Wesleyan.
The Lady Bobcats then captured their second consecutive NCCAA Division I national championship, defeating Bethel University of Indiana 73-64. It was the program's third NCCAA title in four years. Logan Jones scored 25 points in the championship game, while Ashlen Garrett added 22 points and seven rebounds. Head coach Becky Mullis earned NCCAA National Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season. Both Jones and Garrett appear on this season's roster.
Bethel takes the floor Thursday afternoon looking to build on another outstanding season under head coach Chris Nelson. The Lady Wildcats finished 28-6 in 2025-26 and reached the NAIA national quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Their No. 4 preseason ranking sets the stage for an opening test against another recent national tournament participant.
Junior guard Micah Hart returns after averaging 18.7 points and 5.9 rebounds last season. Junior Mikee Buchanan supplied 15.5 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game, connecting on 86 three-pointers at a 39.6 percent clip. Senior MJ Simmons contributed 9.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per contest. Those returning pieces give the Lady Wildcats proven scoring and experience entering the new campaign.
Williams Baptist, from Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, offers a challenging opening assignment. The Lady Eagles finished 24-6 last season, went 16-2 in the American Midwest Conference, and earned their third consecutive NAIA tournament berth. Their season ended with an 87-67 first-round loss to Lindsey Wilson.
Williams Baptist averaged 84.2 points per game entering last season's national tournament, illustrating the offensive production that helped carry the Lady Eagles into postseason play. They opened the current season October 24 with a narrow 83-81 loss to Oklahoma City.
With all four programs coming off NAIA tournament appearances, the classic provides an early opportunity to measure established contenders against quality competition. For Bethel fans, it also offers consecutive afternoons to see the nationally ranked Lady Wildcats begin their pursuit of another successful season.