INDIANAPOLIS --- For the first time in school history, the Tusculum College Women's basketball team will be playing in the NCAA Division II Tournament announced the national selection committee.

The Pioneers (26-4) received an at-large berth and will be the No. 2 seed in the South Atlantic Regional, and will face No. 7 seed Lander University. The South Atlantic Regional will be hosted by Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. The Tusculum/Lander game will be played this Friday at 8 p.m. for the Smith University Center on the FMU campus.

Tusculum, who is enjoying one of its best seasons in school history, has won 11 of its last 12 games, while capturing the program's first ever South Atlantic Conference Championship.

Lander (22-11) won this weekend's Peach Belt Conference Tournament, earning the PBC's automatic bid.

The winner of the Tusculum/Lander game will take on the winner of the No. 3 Clayton State University (18-10) vs. No. 6 Francis Marion (21-8) contest on Saturday at 8 p.m. The regional championship game will be played Monday (March 17) at 7 p.m.

Wingate University (23-7) is the top seed in the regional and will take on No. 8 seed Johnson C. Smith University (21-9). Wingate earned automatic bid by winning the Food Lion SAC Tournament on Sunday, edging out Tusculum 76-74 in Hickory, N.C.

Shaw University, champions of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will be the No. 4 seed and face fifth-seeded Augusta State University (21-8).

The winner of the single-elimination regional will advance to the NCAA II Elite Eight, Mar. 26-29 in Kearney, Neb.



- NCAA -


NCAA II South Atlantic Regional, Florence, S.C.

Friday, March 14, 2008
No. 1 Wingate (23-7) vs. No. 8 Johnson C. Smith (21-9), 1 p.m.
No. 4 Shaw (21-11) vs. No. 5 Augusta State (19-9), 3 p.m.
No. 3 Clayton State (18-10) vs. No. 6 Francis Marion (21-8), 6 p.m.
No. 2 Tusculum (26-4) vs. No. 7 Lander (22-11), 8 p.m.


Saturday, March 15, 2008
Shaw/Augusta State winner vs. Wingate/Johnson C. Smith winner, 6 p.m.
Tusculum/Lander winner vs. Clayton State/Francis Marion winner, 8 p.m.


Monday, March 17, 2008
Championship Game, 7 p.m.