Intramural Women’s Basketball Team Finishes National Runner-Up
April 18, 2019
Angelo State University intramural women’s basketball team Vixen fell just short of a national championship and finished as national runner-up at the 2019 National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) National Basketball Tournament held April 11-15 in Wichita, Kan.
In the Women’s Division, Vixen went undefeated through pool play to advance to the championship game. Despite leading early, Vixen fell to a team from North Carolina A&T in the final, 33-26. To get to the title game, Vixen defeated teams from Missouri State University, University of Central Florida and Missouri S&T. This marks only the second time an ASU women’s team has finished this high at the national basketball tournament.
Individually for Vixen, Jacie Klose of Haskell and Shannon Thompson of Seguin were selected to the 2019 NIRSA All-America Team, which features only the top six players at the national tournament.
Also competing for Vixen were Ryana Butler of Comfort, Lindsey Englehart of Aztec, N.M., Kaylee Hodnett, Taylor Hoelscher and Emery Phillips of San Angelo, Jessica Suarez of Pflugerville, and Emma Thompson of Midland.
In the Men’s Division, ASU team Hometown Heroes finished second in its pool and advanced to the Elite 8 before losing to a team from the University of Central Florida.