DENVER -- For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, the Western Athletic Conference will have two womens basketball teams advance to the NCAA Tournament. WAC Tournament winner, Rice, and Louisiana Tech will both advance to the big dance.
The Lady Owls return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2000-01 season. Rice defeated UC Santa Barbara before falling in the second round to North Carolina. The Lady Techsters are one of two teams to have advanced to all 24 NCAA Tournament. No. 1 seed Tennessee has also made every tournament.
Both Rice and Louisiana Tech are No. 11 seeds. The Lady Owls will take on No. 6 Georgia as part of the Mideast Regional. Louisiana Tech will face the No. 6 seed, Temple. The Lady Techsters are in the East Regional and will play in Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn., on March 20 and 22.
The No. 1 seed in the Mideast Regional is LSU, while North Carolina is the top seed in the West Regional. Tennessee is the No. 1 seed in the East Regional, while Michigan State is the top seed in the Midwest Regional.
Fresno State will also play host to the first and second round at the Save Mart Center on March 19 and 21. From the Midwest Regional, Iowa State, Utah, Stanford and Santa Clara will travel to Fresno. From the West Regional, Notre Dame, UC Santa Barbara, Arizona State and Eastern Kentucky will play first and second round games in Fresno.