SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The seventh-ranked Gannon women's basketball team continues its quest for a national championship Tuesday, March 26 against second-ranked Ashland during the opening round of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at the Bill Greehy Arena in San Antonio, Texas. Game time is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. It can be heard live locally on 90.5 WERG.
Gannon fans are welcomed to a viewing party for Tuesday's Gannon-Ashland game held at the Knight Club, located in the former Antler's building on Fourth and Sassafras Streets. If the Knight Club reaches capacity, a second viewing party will be held in the Yehl Ballroom of the Waldron Center.
For those wishing to view the quarterfinal game from the comfort of their own home, the NCAA will Web cast the contest live at
http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2013/03/26. All NCAA Elite Eight Webcasts will be available at
http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule by clicking on the correct date at the top of the page. Tuesday's Gannon-Ashland video will only be available via the NCAA Webcast or at the Gannon viewing party.
Live gameday audio will be available locally on 90.5 WERG and worldwide at
http://www.wergfm.com. Gannon Director of Athletics Media Relations
Dan Teliski will handle the play-by-play duties. Finally, live gameday statistics will be available at
http://www.ncaa.com/game/basketball-women/d2/2013/03/26/ashland-gannon.
The NCAA Division II Elite Eight is loaded with six No. 1 seeds and seven nationally-ranked teams. Tuesday's first quarterfinal session kicks off with 24th-ranked Augustana (S.D.) against top-ranked Clayton State (Ga.) at 1 p.m. EST. 10th-ranked Dowling (N.Y.) faces fourth-ranked Colorado Mesa during the afternoon session's final game at 3:30 p.m. EST.
The second session kicks off with Nova Southeastern (Fla.) battling fifth-ranked Western Washington at 7 p.m. EST. The Sharks are listed among others receiving votes in the latest national poll and are the only Elite Eight team not listed in the March 12 Top 25. The night concludes with seventh-ranked Gannon versus 2nd-ranked Ashland at 9:30 p.m. EST. Only two teams advanced to the Elite Eight after not being their region's top seed. Dowling was the East Region's third seed. Augustana was the Central Region's sixth seed.
Wednesday's national semifinals are scheduled for 7 and 9:30 p.m. EST. The NCAA Division II national title game is slated for Friday at 8 p.m. EST.
Gannon (31-4) has advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the second time during the last four seasons. The Lady Knights won their second Atlantic Regional title with victories against West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) champion Fairmont State (66-40), Indiana (Pa.) (64-46) and California (Pa.) (50-47). The run completed a perfect 16-0 record at home this season.
After a 1-4 record in NCAA Tournament games prior to head coach
Cleve Wright's tenure, Gannon is 11-4 in the national tournament since Wright took over the reins. That number includes an 8-2 showing during the Lady Knights' last three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Gannon's last run at the Elite Eight was a memorable one in 2010. The Lady Knights were ranked No. 1 in the country and advanced to the national semifinals with a perfect record. The squad was eliminated during the semifinals by eventual national champion Emporia State in overtime. That squad still holds the NCAA Division II record for most victories in a season, finishing 37-1.
The Erie, Pa., program was ranked seventh in the latest
USA Today Sports Division II Coaches' Poll released March 12, landing a spot in the national top 25 for the 26th consecutive poll dating back to last season. The Lady Knights' 31 victories this year represent the second-highest victory total in school history behind the 2009-10 team's 37-1 record. The squad has won 25 games for the fourth time during the last seven seasons.
Ashland (34-1) advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight by winning the Midwest Regional on its home floor. The Eagles disposed of Indianapolis (70-56), Michigan Tech (67-54) and Wayne State (Mich.) (72-63). They can tie Gannon's NCAA Division II record for victories in a season with a national championship.
Head coach Sue Ramsey's club has been the team to beat all season. Ashland was ranked No. 1 during the first 12 national polls of the season after returning 11 letterwinners and four starters from last year's team that dropped an overtime decision to Shaw in the 2012 national championship game.
Ashland's star player is Kari Daugherty who was recently named Daktronics NCAA Division II Player of the Year. The senior forward averages 22.4 points and 13.6 rebounds per game. She broke the NCAA Division II record for consecutive double-doubles this season with 34.
Gannon and Ashland are definitely no strangers. The two programs were rivals in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) from 1995-2008 until Gannon moved to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) prior to the 2008-09 campaign. The Lady Knights lead the all-time series 21-14.
Tuesday's meeting with be the second between Gannon and Ashland this season, before the first in 136 days. The pair locked horns during the second game of the year November 10 at the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, California. Daugherty poured in 29 points and grabbed 19 rebounds during 38 minutes of action in that game. The Eagles raced out to a 32-19 halftime lead, before recording a 70-59 victory. The Lady Knights held a 40-38 scoring edge during the final 20 minutes.
