NAIA moving women's national championship to Independence

William Woods will be host school, receive automatic berth in 2015 and '16

William Woods University women's head basketball coach Dan Chapla has guided the Lady Owls to the national tournament in each of his six seasons at the school.

Without even stepping on the court, it's already official that Chapla and the Lady Owls will be making return appearances for the next two years.

The NAIA and Independence Tourism Department announced Wednesday that the Division I Women's Basketball National Championship will be moving to the Kansas City area and the 2015 and "16 tournaments will be hosted by the city of Independence and William Woods.

William Woods - a member of the American Midwest Conference and sponsor of 13 varsity sports - will receive the automatic host berth in the 32-team field for the national tournament, set for March 18-24, 2015, and March 16-22, 2016, at the Independence Events Center.

Men's golf

William Woods extends win

streak with NAIA Classic title

INDIANAPOLIS - Senior Andrew Davis shared the individual championship and the fourth-ranked Owls logged their fourth straight victory Tuesday when they won the NAIA Classic at the Brickyard by 17 shots.

Davis finished with a 1-over par 145 (74-71) to tie for first place with Matthew Code from Holy Cross (Ind.). William Woods University compiled a 587 team score (293-294) to turn back second-place University of the Cumberlands' 604 (311-293).

Softball

William Woods 5 4

Park University 2 6

Senior starter MacKenzie Bowden struck out 12 and remained perfect in conference play with the Lady Owls' victory over the Lady Pirates in the opener of Tuesday's AMC home doubleheader.

Park rebounded in the nightcap at Backer Sports Complex and came away with a split when it stopped William Woods University's nine-game winning streak.

The Lady Owls - now 26-15 on the season and in second place in the American Midwest Conference with a 12-2 record - entered the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 23 on Tuesday. William Woods was last ranked in 2009 when it climbed as high as No. 14.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.