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WBSK: NCAA TOURNAMENT - West Regional Host Bruins Set to Face Louisiana College
* Upcoming Games - NCAA Division III West Regional, Newberg, Oregon:
- Fri., Mar. 5, 5 pm PST - University of Puget Sound (23-4) vs. University of Redlands (22-5)
- Fri., Mar. 5, 7 pm PST - George Fox University (25-2) vs. Louisiana College (24-2)
- Sat., Mar. 6, 7 pm PST - West Regional Finals
NEWBERG, Ore. - Beginning defense of their 2008-09 national championship with a matchup against Louisiana College, the George Fox University Bruins will host the West Regional first and second-round games of the 2009-10 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament riday-Saturday, March 5-6.
In Friday's first game at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time), the University of Puget Sound (23-4), an at-large team from the Northwest Conference, will take on the University of Redlands (22-5), winner of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament. Northwest Conference champion George Fox (25-2) and American Southwest Conference Tournament winner Louisiana College (24-2) will square off in Friday's second game at 7:00 p.m. PST. The two winners will play for a spot in the "Sweet 16" Saturday at 7:00 p.m. PST.
Tickets prices for both evenings are $6 for adults and $3 for students, children, and seniors 55 and older. Children age two and under are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance beginning Wednesday at the George Fox athletics department office in the Wheeler Sports Center. Northwest Conference and other passes are not valid for NCAA Tournament games. For additional information, contact the athletics department at 503-554-2910.
Live stats, live internet audio from George Fox campus station KFOX radio, and live video streaming via Stretch Internet will be provided for all three regional games by George Fox at the following links:
Live Stats: http://athletics.georgefox.edu/livestats/index
Live Audio: http://www.georgefox.edu/offices/asc/kfoxradio/
Live Video: http://secure.stretchinternet.com/demo/games.php?user=georgefox&o=cal_stamp&sd=today
George Fox is ranked No. 5 in both the WBCA and D3hoops national polls after winning their fourth straight regular season conference crown, seventh overall, and second straight NWC Tournament and third overall. The Bruins defeated Puget Sound 77-51 in this year's tournament final to earn the league's automatic berth. George Fox won last year's national championship with a perfect 32-0 record, defeating Washington University-St. Louis 60-53 in the title game in Holland, Mich.
The Louisiana College Wildcats from Pineville, La., received the ASC's automatic berth by defeating McMurry University 73-69 in overtime at home for their first NCAA Tournament appearance. They are the first team from the ASC East Division ever to win the conference tournament title. The Wildcats enter the post-season with a 16-game winning streak. Louisiana College is ranked 15th in the WBCA poll and 17th in the D3hoops polls.
The University of Redlands Bulldogs from Redlands, Calif., defeated Occidental College in Los Angeles 55-54 in overtime to capture the SCIAC Tournament title after the two had tied for the regular season crown. The Bulldogs played in each of the last three SCIAC Tournament finals but did not prevail until this year, earning their first-ever NCAA appearance. Redlands is not ranked in either national poll.
The Puget Sound Loggers from Tacoma, Wash., received one of 21 at-large bids after falling to George Fox in the Northwest Conference Tournament finals 77-51. UPS is making it fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, with their furthest advance an "Elite 8" trip in 2007. Puget Sound is ranked 13th in both the WBCA and D3hoops polls.
A total of 64 teams were selected for this year's tournament, with 41 automatic bids (Pool A), two independents (Pool B),and 21 at-larges (Pool C). Regional winners will advance to four sectionals Mar. 12-13, with the Final Four set for Mar. 19-20 at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill.
