Lady Blues No. 5 seed in South Central Region

The Washburn women’s basketball team earned an at-large bid to the 2004 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament, which was announced by the NCAA Sunday night. The Lady Blues are seeded No. 5 in the South Central Region at Weiser Gymnasium at the Drury University campus in Springfield, Mo. March 12, 13 and 15.

Washburn, which fell to 25-4 after a 76-68 loss to Northwest Missouri State in the Sonic MIAA Tournament semifinals, will open the South Central Regional with a rematch against the No. 4 seeded Bearcats Friday. The Bearcats are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1990.

The game will be broadcast on 94.5 FM (94 Country) instead of 580 WIBW. The Lady Blues would also be on 94.5 FM if they reach the semifinals and would be back on 580 WIBW if they reach the finals.

The region begins with four quarterfinal games Friday. The semifinals are Saturday night and the championship game will be played Monday night. The South Central Region winner will advance to the Elite Eight March 24, 25 and 27 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Washburn is making its third straight appearance under head coach Ron McHenry and is 9-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. Washburn is 30-7 all-time against the Bearcats but have lost two of three this season after Saturday’s MIAA Tournament semifinal loss.

Northwest Missouri State earned the MIAA’s automatic bid by winning the Sonic MIAA Tournament. Drury earned an automatic bid by winning the Heartland Conference tournament and Angelo State earned an automatic bid with a Lone Star Conference tournament title. Emporia State and Missouri Western joined Washburn as MIAA at-large teams, while Northeastern State joined West Texas A&M as the Lone Star’s at large selections.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION PAIRINGS
WEISER GYMNASIUM • SPRINGFIELD, MO.
Friday March 12
No. 3 Emporia State (24-4) vs. No. 6 West Texas A&M (24-5), 1 p.m.
No. 2 Angelo State (26-4) vs. No. 7 Northeastern State (23-7), 3 p.m.
No. 1 Drury (31-1) vs. No. 8 Missouri Western (21-8), 6 p.m.
No. 4 Northwest Missouri State (24-6) vs. No. 5 Washburn (25-4) 8 p.m.
Saturday March 13
ESU/UWTAM winner vs. ASU/NSU winner 6 p.m.
DU/MWSC winner vs. NWMSU/WU winner, 8 p.m.
Monday March 15
Semifinal winners, 7 p.m.