WINONA LAKE – Grace College isn’t settling for just a thanks for hosting ticket to the NCCAA National Championships.

The Lady Lancers earned a No. 4 seed and will get a familiar foe in No. 5 Emmanuel, the two meeting in last year’s first round of the NCCAA tournament, a 20-point win by the Lady Lions. The fourth game of the women’s bracket will take place Wednesday at 5:15 p.m.

Grace comes in 18-15 overall and winners of eight of its last 11 games, including a six-point win at Concordia in the NCCAA Midwest Regional on March 1. Emmanuel comes in 16-11 overall and won its Regional game against Carver Bible by 23 points.

The top seed in the women’s bracket is Mid-America Christian, which plays Yellowstone Christian in the 3:30 game Wednesday. Opening play in the women’s draws are No. 3 Greenville and No. 6 Southwestern Christian, followed by No. 2 Concordia and No. 7 Hiwassee.

The men’s tournament will go on simultaneously at Grace College, with No. 3 Mid-America Christian and No. 6 Bluefield opening the men’s bracket at noon on Wednesday, followed by No. 2 Emmanuel and No. 7 College of the Ozarks. No. 1 Southwestern Christian and No. 8 Life Pacific as well as No. 4 Central Christian and No. 5 Warner will play Wednesday night.

Games will continue all day Thursday and Friday, and the championship finals will be Saturday at 2 p.m. for the women and 5 p.m. for the men. The Parade of Champions will happen following the Grace game Wednesday afternoon.

Former Indiana University Basketball great and #1 NBA draft pick Kent Benson will be the tournament banquet speaker. Benson spent 11 years in the NBA playing for four teams. He was a member of the unmatched 1976 NCAA undefeated basketball championship team at Indiana University.

Tickets are available to hear Benson speak by attending the tournament banquet. Please contact the Grace College Athletic office at (574) 372-5100 ext: 6266 to reserve tickets for the banquet.