West Chester Women Chosen For NCAA Tournament; Rematch With Edinboro

The following is a press release from the West Chester University Athletic Department.

West Chester University’s women’s basketball team found out that its season will continue late Sunday night when the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament field was announced.
 
West Chester (21-7) received the eighth and final seed in the Atlantic Region and will travel back to Edinboro, Pa., for a rematch with Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion and host fifth-ranked Edinboro University (29-1) on Friday. The Golden Rams fell to the Fighting Scots, 74-58, two days ago in the conference semifinals.
 
The Rams are making their fourth appearance in the “Big Dance” and first since 2003. West Chester is a combined 1-3 all-time in the NCAAs. All four NCAA bids have come during head coach Deirdre Kane’s tenure. West Chester lost to Edinboro (64-56) in the first round in 1997 at Shippensburg. The Golden Rams then lost (91-87) to Bloomsburg in the first round of the 2001 tournament – again at Shippensburg.
 
The last time West Chester reached the NCAA Tournament the Golden Rams defeated Pfeiffer (76-73) at California, Pa. in the first round, before losing to host Cal (62-58) in the second round.
 
West Chester will be making its third trip to Edinboro this season. The Rams lost to the Scots, 80-76, on Dec. 9, before last Friday’s setback in the PSAC semifinals.

The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament is made up of eight regions of eight, adding up to a total of 64 teams in the overall field. The Elite Eight will be held in San Antonio, Texas on March 20, 21 and 23.