March 10, 2009
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University will face 10th-ranked Emporia State University in the first round of the NCAA South Central Region Women’s Basketball Tournament at 6 p.m. on Friday in Canyon, it was announced by the NCAA on Monday.
The Rattlers (24-5 overall) are currently ranked 16th in the nation and won the Heartland Conference regular season title with a 12-2 record. Emporia State University (25-5) won the regular season title of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, but fell in the tournament championship game to Washburn University 78-69 on Saturday.
St. Mary’s advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional for the fifth time in school history with the bid, including three trips in the last four years. St. Mary’s is advancing to the NCAA South Central Region Tournament for the second straight year. They fell to the University of Central Oklahoma in the first round of the 2007-2008 tournament by a 75-73 count in overtime.
All St. Mary’s NCAA South Central Region Tournament games will be broadcast live over the internet.
Tickets to the tournament are available for a single game or for the entire tournament. Tickets for youths and college students are $4 for a single game and $12 for the tournament. Tickets for adults are $7 for a single game and $20 for the tournament. Reserved seat tickets for a single game are $10 and $24 for the tournament.
Excitement is building as the Rattlers head to the regional tournament because St. Mary’s University will host the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite 8 (March 24, 25 and 27) in Bill Greehey Arena. The winner of the NCAA South Central Region Tournament will advance to the NCAA Championships at Bill Greehey Arena.
NCAA South Central Region Tournament
Canyon, Texas
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 13
Game 1 – #3 Central Oklahoma vs. #6 Southeastern Oklahoma State, 1 p.m.
Game 2 – #2 Washburn vs. #7 Incarnate Word, 3 p.m.
Game 3 – #4 Emporia State vs. #5 St. Mary’s, 6 p.m.
Game 4 – #1 West Texas A&M vs. #8 Abilene Christian, 8 p.m.
Semifinals – Saturday, March 14
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.
Championship – Monday, March 16, 7 p.m.