March 18, 2008
2008 Elite Eight Field
Four Teams Already with National Title Banners; Three First Timers
Kearney, Neb. – The eight remaining teams in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament will look to take home the national championship Mach 29th at Nebraska-Kearney's Health & Sports Center.
The 2008 Elite Eight will be held March 26-27 & 29th. The national semifinals games on the 27th will be carried live on ESPN U with the title game the 29th live on ESPN 2. Quarterfinal games on the 26th will be video webcasted by the NCAA/CSTV.
UNK hosted last year's Elite Eight as well and no teams will return to Central Nebraska for this year's tournament.
On Monday night, eight region championship games were held around the nation and the last remaining 2007 Elite Eight team, Clayton State (Ga.), lost in the South Atlantic final to Wingate (N.C.), 82-72.
The Wingate Bulldogs (26-7), the top seed in the South Atlantic, made back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 1995 and 1996.
They'll take on the Northern Kentucky Norse (25-8), the fourth seed from the Great Lakes Regoin. NKU, making its fourth Elite Eight trip, won the 2000 national title and were runners up three years later.
This season, the Norse drubbed top-seed Drury (Mo.) -- a 2007 Elite Eight team -- in the second round, then beat Missouri S & T in the Great Lakes final.
Also on this side of the bracket are Franklin Pierce (N.H.) and Alaska-Anchorage, two schools who'll be making their first Elite Eight appearance. Both teams beat stunned previously undefeated squads Monday night.
In the Northeast Regional final in Philadelphia, the Franklin Pierce Ravens (27-5) downed Holy Family U., 88-71. Holy Family had won its first 32 games this year.
The UAA Seawolves (29-4) also ended a perfect season Monday, shutting down Seattle Pacific, 50-44, in Washington. The SPU Falcons came into the game with a 29-0 mark.
This has been a good year on the hard wood in Alaska as the Seawolves' men's team has also qualified for the Elite Eight.
Three of the other four Elite Eight teams have national championship banners, led by the Delta State Lady Statesmen from Cleveland, Miss.
Delta, now the last unbeaten team at 32-0, will be making an 11th Elite Eight trip but first since 2001. In Delta's rich history, the Lady Statesmen have three national titles and a runner up finish to its credit.
On Wednesday night, they'll face California University of Pennsylvania (27-6), champions from the East Region. The Vulcans won the 2004 national title and also advanced to the 2003 Final Four.
The winner of the Delta-Cal contest will face either South Dakota or Washburn, the two schools located closest to Kearney.
The South Dakota Coyotes (31-1) first Elite Eight trip will be it's last; the 'Yotes will move into Division I next season. The North Central Region champs look to follow North Dakota, North Dakota State and South Dakota State as North Central schools that have taken home the championship trophy.
The Lady Blues of Washburn (26-6) won the 2005 national title and are in the Elite Eight for the fourth time. The second seed in the South Central region, Washburn hosted the Elite Eight volleyball tournament in December.
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Contact: Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |