KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Next Wednesday night, the Southern Polytechnic State University women's basketball team opens play at the 34th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship against the Campbellsville University Lady Tigers from Campbellsville, Ky. The first-round game is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Frankfort (Ky.) Convention Center, which is less than 80 miles from the Campbellsville campus.

The tournament includes 32 teams from across the country, including 17 automatic qualifiers and 15 at-large selections. Opening-round contests are played next Wednesday and Thursday with the event concluding with the championship game on Tuesday, March 25. For more information, check out the official website of the 2014 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship, which includes the tournament bracket, schedule, links to live statistics and video, and more.

Southern Polytechnic, which received 21 points in this week's NAIA Division I coaches' poll to rank 29th nationally, earned an automatic bid to the national tournament after claiming the outright Southern States Athletic Conference Eastern Division title. Southern Poly is making its fourth trip to the NAIA Division I nationals in the past five years. The Hornets, under fourth-year head coach Laquanda Dawkins, are 23-7 overall in 2013-14 and ended 16-4 during SSAC regular-season play. SPSU, which has won 10 of its last 11 contests, is seeded No. 8 in the Second Quadrant at this year's national event.

Campbellsville is making its 22nd appearance at the NAIA nationals, more than any other squad in this season's tournament field, including its sixth straight. The Lady Tigers, who have reached the Elite Eight seven times in their history, are ranked fourth nationally and have been among the Top 5 the past six weeks. Campbellsville, which is one of just five teams at the event with fewer than four losses, garnered an automatic berth to this year's NAIA Division I National Championship after claiming both the Mid-South Conference regular-season and tournament crowns. The Lady Tigers are 30-3 overall and went 16-2 in the MSC. Campbellsville, which has been victorious in 17 of its last 18 games, is the top seed in the Second Quadrant at the 2014 NAIA Division I national event.

The winner of next Wednesday's contest advances to the Sweet 16 and plays on Friday, March 21 at 2:15 p.m.