Both Broncho Teams Make National Tourney

3/6/2011 9:54:55 PM

Courtney Allen

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 6) – Both Central Oklahoma teams received bids to the NCAA Division II national tournament Sunday night, with the men earning the right to host the South Central Regional while the women will travel to Tahlequah.

UCO's men won the Lone Star Conference's automatic berth by winning the LSC Tournament Sunday afternoon and the No. 7-ranked Bronchos (28-3) will be the No. 1 seed in the eight-team regional that will run March 12-15 at Hamilton Field House.

Click here for the tournament website.

Third-seeded Tarleton State (24-5) takes on Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State (22-8) to open the tournament at noon Saturday, with No. 2 Missouri Southern (25-4) taking on seventh-seeded Washburn (18-9) at 2:30. UCO will play eighth-seeded Texas A&M International (21-9) at 6:00 p.m., followed by fourth-seeded Fort Hays State (25-6) and No. 5 West Texas A&M (23-6) at 8:30.

Sunday's semifinals will have the MSU/TSU and MSSU/WU winners playing at 5:00 p.m., followed by the UCO/TAMI and FHSU/WTAMU winners at 7:30. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

All-tournament tickets are $12 for students with ID and senior citizens (62 and older) and $24 and all seating is general admission. Single session tickets are $4 for students and senior citizens and $8. Call (405) 974-2176 for tickets.

Eight eight-team regionals will be held around the country next week, with the winners advancing to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass. March 23-26.

It will be the 12th Division II national tournament appearance for the Bronchos, including the fourth in a row. UCO won regional titles in 1992 and 2008 in advancing to the Elite Eight, losing quarterfinal overtime games both years.

UCO's women picked up an at-large bid after a runner-up finish in the LSC Tournament and the Bronchos (20-9) are the fifth seed in the eight-team South Central Regional that Northeastern State will host on March 11-14.

UCO will meet No. 4 Washburn (22-6) at 6 p.m. in the first round on Friday. Other opening-round match-ups have third-seeded Tarleton State (24-4) taking on No. 6 Southeastern Oklahoma (20-7) at noon, No. 2 Northwest Missouri (25-4) going against seventh-seeded Texas Woman's (22-10) at 2:30 and top-seeded NSU (24-4) playing No. 8 Texas-Permian Basin (21-7) at 8:30.

Saturday's semifinals will pit the UCO/WU and NSU/UTPB winners at 5 p.m. and the SOSU/TSU and NWMSU/TWU winners at 7:30. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 14.

Single session tickets are $5 for youth/child/student (college students must present ID), $10 for adult general admission and $15 for reserved. Call (918) 444-3901 for more information.

The eight regional champions advance to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo. March 22-25.

It will be the fourth Division II national tournament appearance – and fourth straight -- for the Bronchos, who made it to the Sweet 16 before losing in the South Central Regional finals in 2009.

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