Send-off celebration set for Friday as Lady Rangers prepare to travel to national tournament in Wyoming

Kilgore College Athletics will host a special send-off celebration for the Lady Rangers as they prepare to head to Casper, Wyoming to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament.

The celebration is set for noon on Friday, March 21, in Masters Gymnasium on the Kilgore campus.

All community members and the media are invited.

After an impressive run through the postseason, the Lady Rangers women's basketball team punched their ticket to the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament. KC secured an automatic bid after defeating longtime rival Tyler Junior College, 67-58, in the Region 14 Championship on March 15 in Baytown.

With the win, the Lady Rangers improved to 23-9 on the season and earned the No. 17 seed in the national tournament.

They will face No. 16-seeded Walters State (Tennessee), who enters with a 25-5 record, in the opening round at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. CDT) on Tuesday, March 25, in Casper, Wyoming.

Walters State also claimed an automatic bid after a 58-49 win over Chattanooga State in the Region 7 Championship.

The Lady Rangers, known for their defensive toughness and balanced offensive attack, have been gaining momentum at the right time under third-year head coach Stephanie Williams.

This marks the first time since 1993 (under head coach Evelyn Blalock) that the Lady Rangers have qualified to compete on the national stage, as the team looks to make a deep run in Casper and continue their remarkable season.

Fans can watch all games by purchasing a subscription through the NJCAA Network.

Games will also be streamed live on ESPN+.