HICKORY, N.C. - The Iowa Central women's basketball team will finally take to the court here Thursday night at the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament.

After receiving a forfeit win in the opening round, the Tritons will take on No. 4 seed Johnson County, which advanced with an 86-49 victory over Grand Rapids. Tip is set for 8 p.m. Iowa time.

Johnson County was the No. 1 ranked team heading into the postseason before falling in its Region 6 championship game to Kansas City-Kansas. The Lady Cavaliers (20-1 overall) received the lone at-large selection among the 16-team field.

Iowa Central has played its best basketball down the stretch, winning seven in a row and nine of 10 including a victory over Des Moines Area to punch its ticket to nationals.

Brian Ortmeier, in his first season as head coach of the Tritons, was named the North Central B District Coach of the Year.

-By Dana Becker