INDIANA, Pa. -- In the hometown of legendary actor Jimmy Stewart, the No. 15 Anderson University Lady Trojans are hoping to create a starring role for themselves in the NCAA Division II Women's East Regional. The regional begins Friday with four games at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Memorial Fieldhouse. Third-seeded Anderson (27-3) will face sixth-seeded Fairmont State (25-6), the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament champions, in the second game of the day at 2:30 p.m. The Lady Trojans went through a brisk 55-minute practice early Thursday afternoon then had a walk-through in preparation for Friday's fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Entering Friday's game against Fairmont State, Anderson is 4-0 all-time in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. "Everybody is ready to play," said Anderson head coach Jeff Dow. "Coming off the disappointing loss last Saturday, I have been impressed with our practices. We had a great practice Monday and another good one today. There has been an extra level of attention and focus in our meetings and watching film. "We're excited to be here and excited about playing other teams after the grind of the 20-game Conference Carolinas season." Anderson is led by Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Nikki Anthony, who is averaging 13.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Anthony, a senior from Pickens, S.C., has 17 double-doubles this season, including seven in the last eight games. On the perimeter, Anderson has junior guard Keana Boyd, one of the nation's top 3-point shooters. Boyd, a native of Newberry, S.C., is averaging 13.4 points per game and is shooting 41.1 from behind the arc. She scored a season-high 31 points in Anderson's loss to Mount Olive in the Conference Carolinas Tournament final Mar. 8. Fairmont State will counter with the duo of Danielle Cornish (13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and Gabby Gattuso (12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg). Cornish was named the MVP of the WVIAC Tournament. "Fairmont State is extremely balanced and has no weak links," Dow said. "Anybody in their starting five can score in double figures. We're really going to have to be on the top of our game defensively." Both teams have excellent defensive numbers. Anderson is allowing just 54.7 points per game, while Fairmont is allowing 59.7 per game. In their march through the WVIAC Tournament, the Falcons allowed just 55 points per game. Both teams hold the opposition under 40 percent from the field -- Anderson 37.0, Fairmont State 39.3. Sixty could be a key number on Friday. The Falcons are 24-2 when they scored 60 points or more, while the Lady Trojans are 26-2 when reaching 60 points. Another major factor will be the free throw line. Both teams get to the line more than the opposition. Anderson has shot 217 more free throws than its opponents, while Fairmont State has shot 162 more than its opponents. "Fairmont State is more methodical and half-court oriented," Dow said. "The free throws will be critical. Something has to give at the free throw line." Fairmont's last trip to the NCAA Tournament was in 2005 at Anderson's Abney Center. The Falcons were eliminated from that regional in the second round by the Lady Trojans, 90-77. In the other Thursday's first-round games, No. 7 Millersville (24-5) will play No. 2 California (Pa.) (24-6) at 12:30 p.m., top-seeded Indiana (Pa.) (27-4) will play No. 8 Mount Olive (20-10) at 5:30 p.m., and No. 4 West Liberty State (24-5) will play No. 5 Shepherd (22-6) at 7:30 p.m.