TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (March 18, 2019) - An opening-round loss in the 2018 NJCAA tourney has lived with the Salt Lake Community College women's basketball team all year.

The Bruins had a team filled with talent that hoped to make a run throughout the bracket but instead fell late in the first round, denying SLCC a chance to chase the goal of once again reaching the NJCAA Final Four. Entering the 2019 tourney as a No. 21 seed, Salt Lake is well aware of the challenge ahead as the Bruins open the tournament on Monday at 8:00 p.m. CT  in Lubbock, Texas against Tyler Junior College.

In her sixth-straight season making the tournament, SLCC coach Betsy Specketer said her team is excited for the opportunities ahead of them.

"It's great to be back in Texas," she said. "It's what we've worked towards all year long. We've had a couple of really good practices and I feel like our team is focused and ready to play."

Salt Lake returned to the NJCAA tournament thanks to winning the Region 18 championship, powering to a 25-5 overall record and a 9-3 record that clinched a share of the Scenic West Athletic Conference title. The Bruins featured several of the best players on the West Coast, with Miki'ala Maio winning the Region 18 Player-of-the-Year. Utah native Lauren Gustin is also averaging a double-double, leading Salt Lake with 19.7 points and 12.9 rebounds.

Tyler enters the tournament at 28-5 overall. The Apaches placed second in the Region XIV tournament, losing to Angelina College in the tournament final.

The winner of the Salt Lake-Tyler matchup will advance to face No. 5 Odessa in the tournament's second-round on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. CT. Salt Lake lost a matchup with Odessa earlier this season, 56-42.