RELEASED:  Monday, March 3, 2008

NCAA Release / Complete Bracket

Three Teams Claim NCAA Women’s Basketball Bids

Madison, Wis.--For the first time since 1997, three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s basketball teams will participate in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Whitewater will represent the conference in the 63-team field and participate in first and second round games on March 7-8.   The Pointers earned an automatic bid into the tournament by winning the WIAC Tournament title, while the Blugolds and Warhawks earned two of 21 at-large spots.

During the 1997 season, the Blugolds were joined by UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stout in the national post-season event.  All three teams advanced to the second round.

UW-Eau Claire (22-6) is making the 14th NCAA appearance in program history and first since the 2003 season.  The Blugolds will travel to Simpson College (Iowa), along with Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) and Carleton College (Minn.) for first and second round matchups.  UW-Eau Claire was the national runner-up in 1997 and logged third-place finishes in 1994 and 2003.

UW-Stevens Point (24-4) is appearing in the national event for the fifth time in school history and first since 2004.  The Pointers will host St. Norbert College, University of Chicago (Ill.) and St. Thomas (Minn.) in the opening rounds.  UW-Stevens Point won national championships in 1987 and 2002, while placing fourth in 2004.

UW-Whitewater (24-3) is making the eighth NCAA appearance and first since 1995.  The Warhawks will travel to Illinois Wesleyan University, along with Maryville University (Mo.) and Manchester College (Ind.) for first and second round competition.

# # # # #