Dodge City women's basketball got a taste of the NJCAA Division I National Tournament last year for the first time in school history and this year have earned the right to play in the tournament again. 

After posting a 26-6 record and finishing second in the KJCCC the Conquistadors earned one of eight at-large bids to the National Tournament. The 17th-ranked Conqs will be the #18 seed at the National Tournament and draw a matchup with the #15 seed East Georgia State Bobcats in the first round. The matchup will be on Tuesday, March 26th at 3:30 pm (2:30 pm MT) in Casper, Wyoming at the Ford Wyoming Center the host for the NJCAA DI National Tournament. 

The Conqs who fell in the first-round last year versus New Mexico head into this year's tournament looking to take on the challenge ahead of them and make a run. The Conqs average 79.1 points per game (13th in the nation) on 43.1% shooting, while defensively holding teams to 64.3 points per game on 45.1% shooting. The three-point basket has been a key piece to the arsenal for the Conqs as they've hit 337 the most in the nation and rank second in three-pointers made per game (10.5), along with ranking fifth in three-pointers attempted per game (29.1) and three-point field goal percentage (36.2%). 

Conqs will also look to capitalize on other strong facets of their game as they rank sixth in free throw percentage (74.9%), along with being fifth in blocks per game (5.1), 16th in defensive rebounds per game (29.1), 17th in field goals made per game (28.9), and 18th in assists per game (17.6).

Leading the way this season has been a quartet of double-figure scorers for the Conqs as all four were All-KJCCC honorees. Paris Santacaterina paces the Conqs with 14.5 points per game adding 5.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. While the Newcomer of the Year & Defensive Player of the Year in the KJCCC, Parris Atkins averages 14.5 points per game along with 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. Kyriana Jones adds 11.6 points per game along with five rebounds per game, while Layla-J Cameron chips in 11.2 points per game and shoots 50.3% from three-point range. 

The opponent for the Conqs, the East Georgia State Bobcats come into the tournament ranked #22 in the national polls with a 27-3 record riding a 24-game win streak. The Bobcats earned an automatic qualifying spot to the National Tournament by winning their Region 17/Southeast District title and claimed their first Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association title in program history. 

Making their first trip to the National Tournament the Bobcats enter as one of the top scoring teams in the country and one of the best at rebounding the ball. East Georgia State averages 81.9 points per game (sixth in the nation) on 41.9% shooting while holding their opponents to 55.4 points per game on 35% shooting. They lead the NJCAA in rebounding margin per game as they out-rebound their opponents by 19.5 and rank sixth in total rebounds per game (46.8). 

The Bobcats are led by the GCAA Player of the Year and Region 17 tournament MVP, D'Mya Griffin who averages 16.1 points per game with 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. While GCAA Freshman of the Year, Charlese McClendon is just behind her at 15.8 points per game on 57.1% shooting along with 14.7 rebounds per game. 

The Conqs will look to utilize their strengths and battle the Bobcats on the boards to try and advance to the second round of the National Tournament. A win would move the Conqs into the second round to take on the #2 seed Wabash Valley (27-2) at 8:00 pm (7:00 pm MT) on Wednesday, March 27th.