The Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball team will play the 7 p.m. semifinal game against defending national champion Washington U. on Friday, March 18 in the NCAA Division III championships at the Shirk Center. Christopher Newport and Amherst meet in the 5 p.m. semifinal contest.
The Titans (27-4) defeated the Bears (now with a 24-5 record) by a score of 73-68 in the second game of the regular season on November 20 in Greencastle, Ind.
Amherst (30-1), who was also a final four participant in 2010, will play Christopher Newport (29-3) in the other semifinal game. The third place game will be at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 19 with the title game at 7 p.m.
Illinois Wesleyan Women's Basketball Web Site
The Titans are making their fifth straight and eighth overall NCAA tournament appearance and have an 11-6 record in tournament play. IWU has a 9-2 record in the last three NCAA tournaments while advancing to the final four for the first time after being in the round of sixteen last season and the round of eight in 2009. The Titans have won 12 in a row and erased a 23-point deficit to come back and win a 61-60 sectional final game against George Fox on Saturday.
Amherst College Women's Basketball Web Site
Amherst, who was also a semifinalist in Bloomington last season, is 12-0 the last three years hosting the sectional rounds of the NCAA Tournament in LeFrak Gymnasium, winning those contests by an average of 24.7 points. Contributing to that lopsided margin of victory was a 102-44 victory over Husson in the opening round, as the Jeffs are the only team to score at least 90 points in any game of this year's tournament. Five players scored at least 10 points in that win, with NESCAC Player of the Year Jaci Daigneault leading the way at 23. She also had 24 points and nine rebounds in the Lord Jeffs' 68-49 win over previously unbeaten Babson on Saturday in the sectional final.
Christopher Newpprt University Women's Basketball Web Site
The Captains won the USA South Championship for the third consecutive season to earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Christopher Newport is led by the nation's leading scorer, Chelsie Schweers. She scored 33 and 37 points in the Captains' first two NCAA tournament games, setting a new program mark for points in NCAA play. Schweers is backed up by a pair of senior forwards, Barbara Davis and Jessica Moore, both of whom were all-conference selections this season..
Washington University Women's Basketball Web Site
Washington University entered the postseason as one of three teams out of the University Athletic Association and defeated No. 1 and unbeaten Thomas More, 72-53, in the sectional semifinals. The Bears finished the regular season with a 20-5 overall record and an 11-3 mark in UAA play. Senior Kathryn Berger leads the team in scoring and rebounding while senior point guard Alex Hoover averages 9.8 points and 4.4 assists per game. Both were all-UAA players.
TICKET INFORMATION: The Shirk Center ticket office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and til 8 p.m. on game days. All-session ttckets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and senior citizens aged 62 and over.
Single-session tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.
Tickets available online through the
NCAA Championships website or by calling the Shirk Center athletic office at (309) 556-3196.
