ODU TO HOST FIRST AND SECOND ROUND OF 2003 NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
Old Dominion University and the Constant Convocation Center have been selected as one of 16 sites for the first and second rounds of the 2003 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament, as announced today by the NCAA Division I women's basketball committee.
In addition, the committee announced that ODU has also been selected to host the 2004 Mideast regional tournament.
"The NCAA women's basketball committee was looking to move the first and second round sites around geographically. Old Dominion has a strong history for hosting women's basketball events and with the opening of their new arena, the committee believed this was a good choice as one of the 16 sites for these rounds," says Donna Noonan, vice president for the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship.
The 2003 championship will mark the first time that pre-determined sites have been awarded by the NCAA committee for the first and second rounds. If host teams are selected to the NCAA tournament, they will be awarded play on their home court for those rounds.
"We are so pleased to have been selected as host of the 2003 first and second rounds and the 2004 Mideast regional," says athletic director Jim Jarrett. "The University and Hampton Roads has a long history of hosting NCAA women's basketball events, including the first two "Final Four" tournaments at Norfolk Scope in 1982 and 1983, as well as many first and second rounds and regional tournaments. We appreciate the confidence of the NCAA committee in selecting us and look forward to hosting outstanding events.
The first and second round sites will be held either March 22 and 24 or March 23 and 25. Other selected sites include Kansas State University, Penn State, the University of Colorado- Boulder, the University of Connecticut. The University of Oklahoma, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Oregon, North Carolina State University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Georgia, Louisiana Tech University, the University of Tennessee, Texas Tech University and the University of New Mexico.
The 2004 Mideast Regional will be held March 27 and 29 or March 28 and 30. Other sites include the Hartford Civic Center (East), the Lloyd Noble Center at the University of Oklahoma (Midwest) and the Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona State University.
"The awarding of these tournament sites to Old Dominion and the Constant Convocation Center is a tribute to our program and to our fans," says head coach Wendy Larry. "These tournaments will provide the University with a great chance to showcase our new arena on national television, as well as provide great basketball and atmosphere for our fans in Hampton Roads."
Old Dominion will also host the 2003 CAA women's basketball tournament, March 12-15 at the Constant Convocation Center.
Ticket information on the NCAA first and second round tournaments will be announced at a future date. For season ticket information for the 2002-03 season, contact the athletic ticket office at 683-4444.