CALIFORNIA WINS NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Courtesy of California Sports Information
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (March 27) – The Vulcans captured the NCAA Division II National Championship for the second time in program history on Friday night with an 86-69 victory against California Baptist at the Sanford Pentagon.
The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team closes the year with a 32-4 overall record and joins the 2004 Vulcans as the only basketball national champions from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Meanwhile, California Baptist finishes the year with a 29-7 mark in its second year as a full member of NCAA Division II.
Sophomore guard
Miki Glenn finished with a career-high 31 points after scoring 20 points in the second half. She made 10-of-17 attempts from the floor and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Glenn also added eight points, four assists and three steals, while playing all 40 minutes.
Senior
Emma Mahady posted 19 points, including 13 in the first half, on 8-of-15 shooting and collected four rebounds and two steals. Fellow senior
Kaitlynn Fratz added 15 points, five rebounds and six assists, while freshman
Seairra Barrett totaled 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Fratz was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championships Tournament after averaging 16.7 points per game while in South Dakota. She also posted 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steals, while playing all but five minutes over three games. In addition, Glenn and Mahady were selected to the all-tournament team on Friday night.
CBU opened the game on an 11-2 run after making four of its first six shots before Cal U answered with 11-unanswered points to take a 13-11 lead with Fratz converting a three-point play at the 14:24-mark. The Vulcans continued the run following the media timeout, as they held the Lancers scoreless for nearly six minutes, eventually mounting a 20-0 run to build a 23-11 lead following a pair of free-throws by Glenn with 11:46 left in the first half. The teams traded points for the next four minutes before Cal U scored six-straight points to take a 39-23 lead on a layup by Glenn with 4:50 remaining before the break. The Vulcans eventually took a 48-28 lead into halftime after shooting almost 55 percent in the first half.
The Lancers cut the deficit to single digits, 57-49, behind a 21-9 run in the opening seven-plus minutes of the second half and prompted a timeout by the Vulcans with 12:35 left to play. CBU made 9-of-13 shots from the floor during the rally before being held scoreless for two-plus minutes following the timeout. The Vulcans scored three-straight baskets to reclaim a double-digit lead at 63-49 on a jumper by Mahady with 10:25 remaining. CBU made back-to-back baskets to trim the deficit to 63-53 with 9:02 before the Cal U prevented the deficit from ever getting any closer after committing just one turnover and shooting 7-of-13 from the floor. Glenn totaled 16 in the final eight minutes of the game, including six free-throws in the final minute of play.
Cal U finished the game shooting 50.0 percent (34-of-68) from the floor and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) from the free-throw line. In comparison, CBU shot a 43.1 clip (28-of-65) from the field and 76.9 percent (10-of-13) from the charity stripe. The Lancers held a slim 36-35 rebounding advantage and scored 46 points in the paint, while the Vulcans scored 22 points after forcing 18 turnovers.
Junior Darsha Burnside, who stands 6-foot-2, scored a team-high 27 points, including 20 in the second half, after shooting 11-of-19 from the floor. She also totaled 12 rebounds (eight offensive) and six blocks despite being whistled for her fourth foul with 8:38 remaining in the game. Sophomore Kamille Diaz finished with 18 points, while classmate Courtney Nelson added 15 points and nine rebounds.
Cal U closed the year with 11-consecutive victories and won 18 of its last 19 games. The Vulcans earned the PSAC Championship, NCAA Atlantic Region Championship and the NCAA National Championship in the same season for the second time in school history (2004).
Boxscore
California Story
NCAA Bracket
NCAA Semifinals: California Stings Emporia State
Sioux Falls, S.D. – California will play for the 2015 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship title after defeating Emporia State 51-46 in the NCAA Semifinals in Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Wednesday night.
The Vulcans will face the winner of Cal Baptist and Limestone on Friday, March 27, at 8:00 p.m. The national title game will air live on CBS Sports.
Emporia State (29-5) led for nearly the entire first half, with the exception of a short-lived one-point California (31-4) lead established with 4:05 left in the first stanza. The Hornets went into the break holding a 31-30 lead that was cut to just a one-point lead thanks to a
Kaitlynn Fratz buzzer-beating jumper.
In the second half, the Vulcans began pulling away with an
Emma Mahady layup that put California up 44-42 with 9:30 left in the contest. Nearly three minutes later, Mahady scored the next two points of the contest to put the Vulcans up by four.
Miki Glenn sunk a pair of free throws at the 6:14 mark to give California a six-point lead (48-42), marking its biggest lead of the contest. From there, the Vulcans were able to stave off the Hornets and cement the semifinal victory.
Fratz led the Vulcans with 14 points, while
Irina Kukolj contributed 13 points and 11 rebounds. Glenn put up 12 points, while pulling down five boards and swiping two steals. PSAC West Freshman of the Year
Seairra Barrett played standout defense for the Vulcans with six rebounds, five steals, and two blocks without committing a turnover.
California shot just .293 from the field, but went 14-of-17 from the free throw line. The Hornets were 3-of-15 from distance, pulling their field goal percentage down to just .345.
The Vulcans forced Emporia State into 19 turnovers and converted them into 17 points. Emporia held a 47-34 rebounding advantage, including 13 off the offensive glass.
The Vulcans, making their 13th appearance in the NCAA postseason and fifth in the Elite Eight, are now 27-11 overall in the NCAA Tournament. California is now 2-1 in the Final Four and last reached the national championship game in 2004 and defeated Drury 75-72 to capture the national crown. The Vulcans are the only team in PSAC history to have won a women’s basketball national title. Shippensburg is the only other team to have played in the national title game. The Raiders fell to North Dakota State, 104-78, in the 1996 national finals.
Boxscore
California Story
Bracket
NCAA Division II Elite Eight: California Downs Nova Southeastern
Sioux Falls, S.D. – California defeated Nova Southeastern 84-79 in overtime in the 2015 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Quarterfinals in Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Tuesday afternoon.
With the victory, California, now 30-4, will face the winner of Emporia State and West Texas A&M on Wednesday, March 25, at 7:00 p.m.
In the final minute of overtime and California leading 82-79,
Emma Mahady intercepted a Monaye Marritt pass and returned it for a layup to cement the 84-79 victory.
The Vulcans were led by Mahady’s 24 points, 14 of which came before halftime. Mahady was 4-of-7 from 3-point range and collected five rebounds, three blocks, and a pair of steals.
Kaitlynn Fratz posted 21 points with a 9-of-11 performance from the charity stripe, while collecting four steals.
Miki Glenn contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals, while
Irina Kukolj scored 14 points and pulled down eight boards.
Danielle Robinson led Nova Southeastern with 20 points, while Jasmine Wilkins contributed 17. Merritt reached double-figures in scoring with 12 points, while Kayla Wright came off the bench for 11 points.
The Sharks held a 52-42 advantage off the glass, but the Vulcans forced the Sharks into 21 turnovers and converted them into 18 points. The contest saw the score tied 15 times and the lead change hands 12 times.
The Vulcans, making their 13th appearance in the NCAA postseason and fifth in the Elite Eight, are now 26-11 overall in the NCAA Tournament. California is now 3-2 overall in the Elite Eight and is the first PSAC team to reach the Division II semifinals since Gannon fell to Emporia State 97-94 in overtime in 2010. California last reached the semifinals in 2004 and went on to defeat Merrimack, 89-65 in the semis and captured the national title with a 75-72 win over Drury.
Boxscore
California Story
Bracket
NCAA Elite Eight Preview
Courtesy of California Sports Information
CALIFORNIA (March 22) – The California University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team will face Nova Southeastern (Fla.) in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on Tuesday, March 24, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
TICKETS
All tickets are general admission and tickets for individual sessions are priced as follows: adult tickets are $17, seniors 65 and older are $14, and students in kindergarten through college with a valid ID are $12. Children five and under will be admitted free. There is an all-day pass available for all four games on Tuesday for $22.
STORYLINES
• Last time out: Cal U posted a 72-69 overtime win at home over Bloomsburg on March 16 in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship.
• The Vulcans are making their 13th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament and hold a 25-11 overall record in NCAA post-season competition (2-2 Elite Eight).
• Cal U is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and has won 15 of its last 16 games.
ABOUT THE VULCANS
• In her fourth season as head coach,
Jess Strom enters with an 83-29 career record, including a 57-21 mark in PSAC play and a 5-1 record in the NCAA Tournament.
• Cal U features a balanced scoring attack with four players averaging in double digits with a team-high 15.9 points/game from sophomore
Miki Glenn.
• The Vulcans rank in the top five of the PSAC in both scoring offense (73.3) and scoring defense (60.0). Cal U has held opponents to 60 points or fewer 14 times.
ABOUT THE SHARKS
• In four seasons at Nova Southeastern, LeAnn Freeland has compiled a 96-30 overall record and holds a 185-65 career record in eight years.
• Senior Jasmine Wilkins, the SSC Player of the Year, leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks, while shooting a league-best .607 from the floor.
• The Sharks rank second in the SSC in scoring offense (71.4) and are tied for the league lead with a plus-9.8 scoring margin/game,
ABOUT THE SERIES
• Cal U and NSU are playing each other for the first time, while the Vulcans have faced five current members of the SSC with the last meeting coming during the 1996-97 season.
• The Vulcans are in the Elite Eight for the fifth time in school history, having played Elite Eight games in Missouri (2003-04), Nebraska (2008), Texas (2009).
ABOUT CAL U
California (PA) is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and is located in California, Pennsylvania, which is 35 miles south of Pittsburgh. The university was founded in 1852 and now enrolls over 8,200 students. The Vulcans sponsor 16 intercollegiate athletic programs and have claimed three NCAA Division II National Championships, including back-to-back titles in softball in 1997-98.
ABOUT NSU
Nova Southeastern is a member of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) and is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The university was founded in 1964 and now enrolls over 5,150 students with over 70 percent of the students being females. The Sharks sponsor 17 intercollegiate athletic programs and have claimed six NCAA Division II National Championships since 2009, including four-straight in women's golf.
ELITE COMPANY
The Vulcans are in the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in program history and have advanced to the Elite Eight five times. Cal U holds a 25-11 all-time record in the NCAA Tournament with a 2-2 mark in the Elite Eight. The Vulcans are one of three teams (New Haven/1987; Emporia State/2010) at the 2015 Elite Eight to have claimed an NCAA Division II National Championship.
IN A FAMILIAR PLACE
NSU is making its third-straight appearance in the Elite Eight and holds a 10-3 all-time record in four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks advanced to the Final Four for the first time last season after setting a program record for wins, finishing with a 29-4 record.
MAKE THEM COUNT
Sophomore
Miki Glenn leads the team and ranks fourth in the PSAC in scoring this season with a career-high 16.2 points/game. She is the first Cal U player to total over 500 points since the 2010-11 season behind nine 20-point games. Glenn has shattered the single-season school record for free-throws this year, as nearly 40 percent of her points have come from the charity stripe. She ranks first in the PSAC with 205 free-throws made and 242 free-throw attempts, while sitting fourth in the league with an .847 free-throw percentage. The West Virginia native is already third in single-season league history for free-throws made with Melissa Swartz of Shippensburg holding the record of 219 free-throws during the 1995-96 campaign.
SHARK SHOOTING
NSU leads the Sunshine State Conference and ranks No. 12 in NCAA Division II this season with a .453 field-goal conference. Senior Jasmine Wilkins, who stands at 5-foot-10, leads the league and sits third in the country while shooting 60.7 percent from the floor. Redshirt junior Jessica Valley, a transfer from Indiana State, also ranks among the SSC leaders with a .428 field-goal percentage.
FRANTIC FRATZ
Senior
Kaitlynn Fratz is averaging 19.3 points/game over the last six games, which spans both the PSAC and NCAA Tournaments. She has scored at least 14 points in each post-season game this season, while playing 40 minutes five times. Fratz nearly matched her career high with 32 points (22 first half) at Bloomsburg on March 7 in the semifinals of the PSAC Tournament. The high-energy, 5-foot-5 guard is also averaging 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals/game in the post-season.
TITLE SWEEP
Cal U and NSU both captured their league and regional titles this season. The Vulcans earned the PSAC Tournament Championship for the first time since 2006, while the Sharks repeated as the champions of the SSC Tournament for the first time in school history.
BALANCED OFFENSES
Cal U and NSU both average over 70 points while neither team features a player scoring more than 16.5 points/game. Four of the five starters for the Vulcans average double-digits and each has posted at least one 20-point game this season, including a team-best nine by sophomore
Miki Glenn. Five regulars for the Sharks score at least 8.0 points/game with seniors Jasmine Wilkins and Danielle Robinson both having eclipsing 1,000 career points.
STEADY MAHADY
Senior forward
Emma Mahady has increased her scoring average in each of the last three seasons, reaching a career high of 13.8 points/game this year. She ranks No. 14 in school history with 1,224 career points and also sits eighth all-time with 198 steals. Mahady registered her sixth 20-point game of the season when she scored 21 points in the PSAC Championship on March 8.
FACING THE BEST
The Vulcans enter the Elite Eight having already played seven games against nationally-ranked teams. Cal U has posted a 6-1 record this season against teams ranked in the USA Today Sports Top 25 poll, including a pair of wins over teams slotted in the top 10. In addition, the Vulcans posted a 10-2 mark against teams that qualified for the 2015 NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament.
THE SEEDS
Of the eight teams advancing to Sioux Falls, seven schools were slotted either Nos. 1 or 2 in their regional tournaments. Cal U was the top seed in the Atlantic Region, while NSU was tabbed No. 2 in the South Region. California Baptist is representing West Region at the Elite Eight after claiming the regional title as the fifth seed.
YOUTH INFLUX
The Vulcans have featured the PSAC West Freshman of the Year in each of the last two seasons. Guard
Miki Glenn received the laurel in 2014 before being an All-PSAC West First-Team selection this year, while forward
Seairra Barrett was the overwhelming choice for the honor this season after being named PSAC West Freshman of the Week seven times.
IN THE POLL
Cal U has been featured in the USA Today Sports Top 25 poll 10 times this season, including five-straight weeks prior to the NCAA Tournament. The Vulcans are tabbed No. 14 in the latest rankings, marking their highest position in the poll since the 2008-09 season when they were tabbed No. 2 in the country twice and advanced to the Elite Eight for the second-straight year.
LONG DISTANCE
NSU leads the SSC with a .352 three-point field-goal percentage and 7.5 three-pointers/game. The Sharks have averaged 9.5 three-pointers over their last six games, shooting 41.0 percent from beyond the arc during that span. NSU has made a season-high 14 three-pointers twice and three players have converted over 50 treys this year.
"WE ARE R" TEAM AWARD
The Vulcans are one of three finalists for the fourth-annual "Together We R" Team Award, which honors programs that have strived to succeed in the face of adversity, overcoming extraordinary circumstances such as an unforeseen team crisis, barrier or unfortunate situation that caused extra stress. Cal U has posted a 15-2 record and captured both the PSAC and Atlantic Region Championships since senior forward
Shanice Clark, who was redshirting this season, passed away on Jan. 18 at the age of 21.
NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship: California Gets Past Bloomsburg
California, Pa. – No. 1-seed California clinched the 2015 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional title with a 72-69 overtime victory over No. 3-seed Bloomsburg on Monday night in Hamer Hall.
With the victory, the Vulcans will face Nova Southeastern in the Elite Eight on March 24 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Nova Southeastern defeated Union 67-62 in the South Region championship.
Bloomsburg got out to a fast start with a 20-9 lead just 12 minutes in, but five unanswered points from California’s Miki Glenn pulled the game within two and the teams headed into the locker room knotted at 27 apiece at the break.
From there the score see-sawed, as the second stanza saw seven lead changes and eight tied scores. Jocelyn Ford, who only had four points in the first 20 minutes, came out strong for the Huskies notching 14 points in the second half, including a pair of treys and a 4-of-4 performance from the charity stripe. Glenn and teammate Kaitlynn Fratz each dumped in 12 points in the second half for the Vulcans.
Atlantic Regional Tournament MVP Glenn led all scorers with 23 points, while Fratz contributed 20, including a 5-of-9 showing from distance. Irina Kukolj sunk the game-winning bucket with 59 seconds left in the overtime session and finished the night with 17 points. Glenn put the Vulcans up by three in the waning seconds with a layup to cap her MVP tournament performance and cement the 72-69 victory.
Bloomsburg’s Atlantic Region All-Tournament team honoree Marla Simmons scored a team-best 19 points, while Ford, also an all-tournament selection, capped the night with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and a steal.
California forced Bloomsburg into 21 turnovers and translated them into 23 points, where Bloomsburg only manufactured eight points from Cal U’s 12 turnovers.
Bloomsburg ends its season with 26 victories, ranking second most in a season in program history, and as the only PSAC East team to appear in back-to-back regional finals.
The Vulcans are now 5-2 all-time in Sweet 16 contests, including a 3-0 mark in Hamer Hall. California last won the regional crown in 2009 with a 64-40 win over Gannon. The Vulcans have advanced to the Elite Eight on four occasions in program history (2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009), including its national championship title in 2004.
NCAA Bracket
Boxscore
California Story
Bloomsburg Story
NCAA Atlantic Regional Semifinal: Bloomsburg Trounces Shepherd
California, Pa. – No. 3-seed Bloomsburg posted an 85-69 victory over No. 7-seed Shepherd in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional semifinals in California, Pa. on Saturday afternoon.
With the victory, Bloomsburg will play California for the regional championship at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16 in Hamer Hall.
The Huskies were led by PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year Marla Simmons’ 22 points, while Morgan Klunk collected her first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. PSAC East Freshman of the Year Camden Boehner came off the bench and produced 13 points, and Taylor Maldonado added 11 points and a team-high four assists.
Bloomsburg will make its second straight and fifth overall appearance in the Sweet 16. A year ago, the Huskies fell to Edinboro 82-76 in the regional title game. With a win on Monday, Bloomsburg will earn its first NCAA Quarterfinal appearance since 1989. The Huskies defeated Lock Haven 64-58 to claim the 1989 Atlantic Region title. Bloomsburg is now 10-9 overall in NCAA postseason action.
Boxscore
Bloomsburg Story
NCAA Atlantic Regional Semifinal: California Downs West Liberty
California, Pa. – No. 1-seed California defeated No. 5-seed West Liberty 69-64 in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional semifinals in California, Pa. on Saturday evening.
With the victory, California will play Bloomsburg for the regional championship at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 16 in Hamer Hall.
Miki Glenn led the Vulcans with 18 points and dished out four assists, while Kaitlynn Fratz contributed 14 points and four steals. Irina Kukolj and Emma Mahady scored 12 and 11 points, respectively. Mahady completed the double-double with 10 boards.
On Monday, California will make its second appearance in the Sweet 16 in the last three seasons. The Vulcans last played for the regional title in 2013 and fell to Gannon, 50-47. California, making its 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, holds a 24-11 overall mark in NCAA postseason play. The Vulcans have won 14 of their last 15 games this year.
Boxscore
California Story
NCAA First Round: Bloomsburg Gannon
California, Pa. – No. 3-seed Bloomsburg sunk 11 3-pointers on its way to an 81-76 victory over No. 6-seed Gannon in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional first round in California, Pa. on Friday afternoon.
Bloomsburg will face Shepherd in the regional semifinals at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday in Hamer Hall.
The Huskies were led by a pair of 20-point efforts from Jocelyn Ford and Adreana Sadowski. Ford was 4-of-6 from distance, while handing out four assists. Sadowski completed the double-double with 10 boards and also recorded three blocks and a pair of steals. PSAC East Athlete of the Year Marla Simmons, Taylor Maldonado and Taylor Kaminski notched 11 points apiece.
Bloomsburg, making its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, is now 9-9 all-time in the NCAA postseason. The Huskies have captured their first NCAA Tournament win over a PSAC team since 2001 when Bloomsburg defeated West Chester 91-87 in the second round.
Gannon ends its season with a 21-8 overall record and its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in seven seasons.
Boxscore
Bloomsburg Story
Gannon Story
NCAA First Round: IUP Upset by Shepherd
California, Pa. – No. 2-seed IUP was upset 68-60 by No. 7-seed Shepherd in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional first round in California, Pa. on Friday afternoon.
Shepherd will play Bloomsburg in the regional semifinals on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
Ashley Stoner posted 14 points for the Crimson Hawks, while Amy Fairman added 13. Leslie Stapleton contributed 12 points and PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year Lindsay Stamp was held to 11 points.
Gabby Flinchum led Shepherd with 21 points, including an 11-of-13 performance from the charity stripe, and 12 rebounds.
IUP ends its season with a 25-3 overall record and made the program’s ninth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Boxscore
IUP Story
NCAA First Round: West Liberty Survives West Chester
California, Pa. – No. 4-seed West Chester fell 88-85 in overtime to No. 5-seed West Liberty in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional first round in California, Pa. on Friday evening.
West Liberty will face California at 7:30 p.m. in Hamer Hall on Saturday.
Dallas Ely led the Golden Rams with 25 points, while Brittany Sicinski poured-in 22. Jasmine Clark reached double-digits with 16 points, while Anna Kuntz, Chikish Steele-Hook and Serifat Junaid pulled down nine rebounds apiece.
Kailee Howe led West Liberty with 22 points, while Kierra Simpson set a new NCAA Division II Tournament record in rebounds with 29.
West Chester caps the year with a 24-6 overall record and the program’s fifth trip to the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Kiera Wooden is the first women’s basketball coach in school history to lead a team to the NCAA postseason in their first year at the helm.
Boxscore
West Chester Story
NCAA First Round: California Downs Virginia State
California, Pa. – No. 1-seed California defeated No. 8-seed Virginia State 86-75 in the 2015 NCAA Women’s Basketball Atlantic Regional first round in California, Pa. on Friday evening.
2015 PSAC Champion California will face the West Liberty at 7:30 p.m. in Hamer Hall on Saturday in the regional semifinals.
Five Vulcans scored in double-digits led by Miki Glenn’s 21 points. Emma Mahady added 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while Kaitlynn Fratz contributed 16 points. Cece Dixon and PSAC Western Division Freshman of the Year Seairra Barrett came off the bench and scored 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Vulcans, making their program’s 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, improve to 23-11 in the NCAA postseason. California has won 13 of its last 14 games.
Boxscore
California Story
Five Women's Basketball Teams Gain Entry into NCAA Division II Championship
NCAA Release
Interactive Bracket
Printable Bracket
Indianapolis – Five PSAC women's basketball teams will play in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional hosted by California (Pa.) March 13-16, announced by the NCAA on Sunday night.
California earned the No. 1 seed after earning an automatic qualifying bid for winning the PSAC Championship title over West Chester. The Vulcans will play No. 8 Virginia State in first round action.
IUP is the second seed and will play No. 7 Shepherd, while No. 3 Bloomsburg will play No. 6 Gannon. PSAC runner-up West Chester is the No. 4 seed and will play No. 5 West Liberty.
Twenty-two conferences have been awarded an automatic qualification. The committee selected the remaining 42 at-large teams.
All eight teams within the region will travel to one site for first-round, semifinal and final competition at the regional level. First-round games will be played March 13, semifinal games March 14 and the regional championship will be played March 16. The regional champions will advance to the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight March 24, 25 and 27 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Sioux Falls Sports Authority will host the Elite Eight.