South Dakota enters The Summit League Women’s Basketball Championship as the top seed for the second consecutive season.
Eight teams will begin play at the tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, which determines The Summit League’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
South Dakota (24-5, 15-1 SL), last season’s runner-up, won its second-straight regular season title and is currently ranked 15th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll. The Coyotes have advanced to the championship game in all three of its eligible seasons and will meet No. 8 Denver (5-24, 3-13) Saturday, March 5, at Noon CT (Midco Sports Network / ESPN3).
The second quarterfinal pits second-seeded and six-time tournament champions South Dakota State (23-6, 13-3) against No. 7 Fort Wayne (7-22, 3-13) at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, on Midco Sports Network and ESPN3. The Jackrabbits are ranked No. 8 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll.
On Sunday, March 6, quarterfinal action resumes with No. 4 Oral Roberts (13-15, 10-6) facing No. 5 Western Illinois (15-14, 8-8) at Noon CT, followed by No. 3 IUPUI (20-9, 11-5) vs. No. 6 Omaha (14-14, 7-9) at 2:30 p.m. CT. Both games will air live on Midco Sports Network and ESPN3.
Semifinal action begins on March 7, with the winner of the No. 1 vs. No. 8 game against the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game winner at Noon CT. That is followed by the winners of the No. 2 vs. No. 7 and No. 3 vs. No. 6 contests at 2:30 p.m. CT. Both semifinal games will be aired on Midco Sports Network and ESPN3.
The championship game is set for 1 p.m. CT on March 8, and will be broadcast live on ESPNU with Clay Matvick and Steffi Sorensen on the call.
