CLINTON — The Mississippi College Lady Choctaws made history earlier this week when they were chosen as an at-large team to compete in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

It is the first time in school history for the 22-4 Lady Choctaws to be chosen for the 63-team tournament field. And they have several former Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcats to thank for that accomplishment.

Seniors Rosemary Green, Kelsey Hopkins and Deanna Powe are all former Lady Bobcats who played for current head coach Sandra Sumrall and who helped the MC women’s team achieve success.

Green, a Mt. Olive native who played at Mize High School, was named a first-team American Southwest Conference selection earlier this week. She was also named to the ASC All-East Division first-team.

Green, a 6-foot forward, has started 22 of MC’s 26 games this year. She is averaging 12.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. She is shooting 55 percent from the field. Last year, she was named the ASC East Newcomer of the Year and earned All-ASC East first-team honors.

Hopkins, a Laurel native who played at West Jones, has started four games and played in all of MC’s games this season. She is a 6-foot forward who is averaging 6.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Powe, who is from Waynesboro and played at Wayne County High School, has played in all of MC’s games this season. She averages 2.8 points and 1.3 assists per game. She also has 25 steals on the season.

MC meets Greensboro College, 26-2, at 6 p.m. on Friday in the opening round of the tournament, which is being played on the campus of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Oglethorpe, 25-3, meets Maryville College, 19-8, in the other semifinal game at 8 p.m. on Friday.

The two winners will play on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the winner of that game advancing to the sectionals on March 13-14.