GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles are set for their first NAIA Division II National Tournament appearance since 2014 and they will be faced with a tough opening round task, taking on No. 1 Southeastern (Fla.). The game will take place on Wednesday, March 7 at 6:15 p.m. EST inside the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Live video, stats, and audio links can be found at cugoldeneagles.com.

Opponent: No. 1 Southeastern (Fla.)
Date: Wednesday, March 7
Time: 6:15 p.m. EST
Location: Sioux City, Iowa (Tyson Events Center)
Internet Coverage: Live Video/Stats/Audio
                              
Scouting Southeastern
Southeastern remains as the only team in NAIA Division II to be undefeated, posting a perfect 29-0 overall record while going 18-0 in conference play. The Fire have posted back-to-back perfect regular seasons with their only loss coming in the third round of the 2017 national tournament to Marion University. As a team, Southeastern beats their opponents by an average of 34.1 points per game. Southeastern is such a well-rounded team as they rank best in the nation with a 51.3 field goal percentage along with holding opponents to an NAIA lowest 50.9 points per game. The Fire have five NCAA Division I transfers on their roster with the Miami of Ohio transfer Ana Richter leading the team with 23.3 points per game (on 67.7% shooting) and 7.6 rebounds per game. The transfer from Toledo Halee Printz leads Southeastern with 168 of the Fire's NAIA best 650 assists this season, averaging 6.0 per game. SEU ranks in the top 10 among NAIA Division II schools in 12 different statistical categories this season. 
 
History vs. Southeastern
The Golden Eagles and Fire have never met before, and they will play each other for the first time in the opening round of the NAIA Division II National Tournament. 
 
NAIA Tournament History
Cornerstone enters their 10th NAIA Division II National Tournament and has posted a 9-9 overall record in Sioux City. The best run for the Golden Eagles came in 2002 when they made it all the way to the championship game before falling to Hastings College 73-69. The last time CU qualified in 2014 they entered the tournament as a six seed, but ultimately fell in the first round to the three seed Mayville State. 
 
About Southeastern
Southeastern University is located in Lakeland, Florida and sees an enrollment of 4,538 students as of 2015. The Fire compete in the 10 team Sun Conference, with eight of those teams being from the sunshine state and two being from Georgia. 
 
Fire's NAIA Tournament History
Southeastern is headed to their fourth NAIA Division II National Tournament since moving to the NAIA from the NCCAA in 2014-15. Last season the Fire made their farthest run in the tournament making the third round before being dropped by the eventual champion Marion University. This season, Southeastern has been named the top overall seed for the first time in school history, posting a perfect 29-0 record.
 
Otten 13 Away
Senior Lizzy Otten still has a chance to become the 26th Golden Eagle in program history to reach 1,000 career points, needing just 13 to achieve the mark. Otten, who average 8.0 points per game, will be faced with a tough task facing the top overall seed and undefeated Southeastern Fire in the first round of the national tournament. Otten started her career at Madonna where she scored 440 points over two years, and has now scored 547 points in her final two seasons with Cornerstone. 
 
Champs Once Again
Cornerstone won their first conference tournament since 2009. This is the first conference championship for head coach Katie Mattera in her sixth season at the helm of the Golden Eagles. CU will now go to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the tenth time in program history and for the first time since the 2013-14 season. 
 
Record vs. Top 25/RV
Cornerstone has posted a 5-5 record this season against NAIA Division II Top 25/RV opponents. Five wins vs. ranked opponent's ties head coach Katie Mattera's record from 2013-14 where the Golden Eagles also recorded five wins against the NAIA Division II Top 25/RV. CU's WHAC Championship victory over No. 9 Indiana Tech serves as the first win over a top 10 opponent since 2013 when CU defeated No. 2 Davenport.