When the Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team lost to Casper College in the semi-finals of the Region IX tournament, the team thought their chances of going to the national tournament was finished and their season over.

                Sunday afternoon, all that heartache of losing in the semifinals and their season over, turned into utter surprise and happiness as the team found out that the Cougars were one of eight at-large teams to make the NJCAA national tournament that begins April 19 in in Lubbock, Texas.

                The Cougars earned the No. 16 seed and will play No. 17 Iowa Western Community College at 9 a.m. MST in Lubbock, Texas. WNCC is 15-5 on the season while Iowa Western is 22-2. The winner will play the top-seeded Jones College Tuesday, April 20 at 1 p.m.

                Sophomore Ashley Panem said it was surprising when she found out that they earned an at-large berth.

                "I have never been more excited and surprised about anything," she said. "Our team was absolutely devastated losing in the region tournament. So, to get this second chance in the national tournament is unbelievable. We know we can beat Casper and we've beat Otero, so we do know we belong in the tournament."

                It will be the Cougars fifth straight year of making the national tournament. WNCC earned an at-large berth last year and No. 7 seed but never got to play in the tournament since the tournament was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

                This year's field features three Region IX Teams. Otero Junior College earned the automatic spot after winning the regional tournament. Otero earned the No. 21 seed and will play No. 12 Butler Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m.

                Casper, who was ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation, earned an at-large berth and the No. 8 seed overall. The Thunderbirds earned a first-round bye and will play the winner of the first-round winner between Three Rivers and Eastern Oklahoma State. Casper's game is slated for Tuesday at 3 p.m.

                Panem said they will be ready to play Iowa Western when the national tournament opens up. WNCC sophomore Bella Sparaco played for the Reivers a year ago, too.

                "To play Iowa Western will be a good battle," she said. "I know for a fact we will give our all and especially since it's Bella's old school, there will be a little bit of animosity so we will want to help her beat them too."

                The eight teams that received a first-round bye in order of the seeds are Jones College at No. 1, Trinity Valley at No. 2, Chipola College at No. 3, South Plains at No. 4, Northwest Florida State at No. 5, South Georgia Tech at No. 6, Shelton State at No. 7, and Casper College at No. 8.

                The first round pairings on Monday include No. 16 WNCC against No. 17 Iowa Western at 9 a.m., No. 9 Three Rivers against No. 24 Eastern Oklahoma State at 11 a.m., No. 15 Gulf Coast vs. No. 18 Miles at 1 p.m., No. 10 Wabash Valley vs. No. 23 Independence at 3 p.m., No. 13 Georgia Highlands vs. No. 20 Southern Idaho at 4 p.m., and No. 12 Butler vs. No. 21 Otero at 7 p.m.

                The two Tuesday first-round games pit No. 14 Moberly Area against No. 19 Eastern Arizona at 9 a.m. and No. 11 Tyler against No. 22 Walters State at 11 a.m.

                The tournament runs through April 24 with the championship and third-place games. Once a team loses, they are eliminated form the tourney.