March 9, 2008
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University’s record-setting women’s basketball team rode the wave of a 24-game win streak to an NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament berth, which will begin on Friday in Canyon.
The Rattlers (25-4 overall) will be the number six seed in the South Central Region Tournament and will face third-seeded University of Central Oklahoma on Friday. The berth in the South Central Region tournament is the third all-time for the Rattlers and the second in the last three years.
West Texas A&M University is the top ranked team in the South Central Region and will host the tournament. They will take on Northwest Missouri State. Second seed Washburn University will face seventh-seeded Angelo State University and fourth-seeded Emporia State University will take on the fifth seed Southwest Baptist.
St. Mary’s won the Heartland Conference Tournament on Saturday night in Denton with a 43-37 victory against St. Edward’s University. St. Mary’s rolled through the Heartland Conference, sweeping all 16 games this season against Heartland Conference opponents, including the two games in the Heartland Conference Tournament.
“I’m just happy for our girls,” coach Jason Martens. “All the hard work they have put in this season and during the summer has paid off for them getting a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“It (getting the sixth seed) really rewards us for a good season. Our 24-game win streak demands some respect and the selection committee recognized that.”
The Rattlers were ranked seventh in the latest NCAA South Central Region rankings and are ranked 24th in the nation in the latest National Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (NWBCA), the first time the Rattlers have been in the national poll since the 2002-03 season.
2008 South Central Region Tournament Schedule
#1 West Texas A&M (26-4) vs. #8 Northwest Missouri State (17-13)
#2 Washburn (23-6) vs. #7 Angelo State (23-8)
#3 Central Oklahoma (23-7) vs. #6 St. Mary’s (25-4)
#4 Emporia State vs. #5 Southwest Baptist