The NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament has entered the round of sixteen with a mixture of established powerhouses and teams that may win on an upset.
The most intriguing matchup pits the defending national champion DePauw Tigers against Carthage College, who hopes to carry momentum after an upset victory over previously undefeated and second-ranked Hope College. They will square off on Friday, Mar. 14 at Neal Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m.
The winner of that game will face the winner of University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The Titans of Wisconsin-Oshkosh knocked off Washington University-St. Louis 72-66 in the second round. Whitewater and Oshkosh will play at 5:00 p.m. in Neal Fieldhouse followed by the game between DePauw and Carthage.
Wisconsin-Whitewater and DePauw have a history in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers knocked off the Warhawks in the national championship game last season.
Hosting the NCAA basketball tournament games is nothing new for DePauw University. The school has successfully hosted tournament games the past two seasons. Athletic Director Stevie Baker-Watson notes that there are other factors why DePauw was chosen to host two of the round of sixteen games in addition to the team's success.
"There are so many factors that influence the NCAA committee's decision as to where to host tournament games," said Baker-Watson. "The team's success this year has been very important, but they also take into account our successfully hosting of games in previous years, geographical location, and great home crowd that will show up to support and consequently bring in revenues."
In order to apply to host the tournament, the athletic department has to submit a comprehensive plan of action that includes a mock budget, safety and security plan, and facility diagrams. Additional NCAA tournament regulations require that black pipe and drape be hung over the second floor viewing area to maintain privacy for all basketball practices.
"It's exciting that we get to see even more basketball at Neal [Fieldhouse]," said first-year Jane Pera. "I'm planning on attending both games on Friday night."
Junior guard Lauren Abdendroth thinks playing a tournament game at home is a significant advantage for the Tigers.
"I think hosting makes it more personal for a team," said Abendroth. "We aren't going to let someone else come in and beat us on our home floor. We also know that we will have the support of our fans behind us and playing for them adds extra energy on the court."
On the other side of the bracket, Montclair State University will face off against Scranton University. The winner of that game will play the winner of undefeated FDU-Fordham University and Baldwin-Wallace College, who upset York College (Pa.) to advance to the round of sixteen. Montclair State and Scranton will play at 5 p.m. followed by a matchup between FDU-Fordham and Baldwin-Wallace at 7:30 p.m. at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, NJ.
The tournament has already seen its fair share of upsets and nail-biting games. The matchups set for Friday night at Neal Fieldhouse are highly anticipated, especially for all those who have been involved. Healthy combinations of new and familiar foes are shaping an exciting push towards the national title game.