Tampa To Meet Clark Atlanta In Opening Round Of NCAA Tournament
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The University of Tampa (25-5) women's basketball team earned its fourth consecutive bid to the NCAA Division II South Regional, receiving a number-three seed for the 2009 tournament.
After receiving an automatic bid for winning the 2009 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Sunshine State Conference tournament, UT will face sixth-seed Clark Atlanta University (23-4) in Friday's opening round at 4 p.m. The South Regional will be hosted by Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss.
The bid marks the seventh NCAA tournament appearance in UT women's basketball history and the fifth under seventh year head coach Tom Jessee. The Spartans will return to Delta State, who hosted the 2008 South Regional.
A victory would advance the Spartans to Saturday's semifinal versus the winner of the No. 2 Fort Valley State (26-4) and No. 7 Ouachita Baptist (18-8) game. The semifinal is slated for 7 p.m., with Monday's South Region championship scheduled for 8 p.m.
Click here for 2009 NCAA II tournament bracket
2009 NCAA II South Regional schedule (all times eastern)
Friday, March 13
No. 2 Fort Valley State vs. No. 7 Ouachita Baptist, 2
p.m.
No. 3 Tampa vs. No. 6 Clark Atlanta, 4 p.m.
No. 1 Delta State vs. No. 8 Valdosta State, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Rollins vs. No. 5 Arkansas-Monticello, 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
No. 2/7 winner vs. No. 3/6 winner, 7 p.m.
No. 1/8 winner vs. No. 4/5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, March 16
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.