University of Central Oklahoma Athletics

Bronchos Make National Field

3/7/2010 8:47:15 PM

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 7) – Central Oklahoma will make its third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship after the Bronchos earned an at-large bid into the 64-team national tournament Sunday night.

UCO, which lost in the semifinals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament Friday to eventual champion West Texas A&M, will go to Canyon, Texas for the South Central Regional and is the No. 6 seed in that eight-team tournament.

The Bronchos, 22-7 on the year, will take on third-seeded Northeastern State Friday in the first round at 12 p.m. The LSC North Division rivals split two regular season meetings, with UCO winning 77-74 in Edmond and NSU prevailing 81-66 in Tahlequah.

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It's the third straight year for UCO to travel to Canyon for the regional. The Bronchos lost in the semifinals two years ago and advance to the Sweet 16 berth last season before falling to host WTAMU in the finals.

“We're certainly excited about being in the national tournament again,” UCO coach Guy Hardaker said. “It should be another great regional with eight really good teams and we're happy to be a part of it. We'll practice hard this week getting ready and look forward to the challenge.”

Other opening-round games have No. 2 seed Washburn playing seventh-seeded Central Missouri, at 2:30 p.m., No. 4 seed Emporia State meeting fifth-seeded Tarleton State at 6 p.m. and top-seeded tournament host WTAMU taking on St. Mary's at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday's semifinals will pit the UCO/NSU-UCM/WU winners at 5 p.m. and the ESU/TSU-WTAMU-SMU winners at 7:30 p.m.. The championship finals are set for 7 p.m. Monday, March 15.

Eight regional tournaments will be held around the country this week, with the champions advancing to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo. March 23-26.

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