The University of Mary women's basketball team won't have long to wait to play their first NCAA playoff game. The sixth seeded Marauders open the NCAA Division II Central Region Women's Basketball Tournament in Wayne, NE, against third seeded and 14th-ranked Fort Lewis College at 1 PM on Friday, March 9. It is the first of four Central Region tournament games of the day.

Friday's other semifinal games at Rice Auditorium include No. 2 seed Metro State vs. No. 7 seed Minnesota-Duluth at 3 PM; No. 1 seed Wayne State vs. No. 8 seed Minnesota State-Mankato at 6 PM; and No. 4 seed Augustana vs. No. 5 seed Colorado State-Pueblo at 7 PM.

This will be the first time U-Mary and Fort Lewis have played one another. Fort Lewis is making its fifth straight national tournament appearance and sixth overall. The Skyhawks advanced to the national championship game in 2010 and the regional championship game in 2009.

The Marauders are making their first national tournament appearance since advancing to the second round of the NAIA tournament in 2005. U-Mary qualified for the NAIA national tournament eight times and won a national championship in 2000.

2012 NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament First Round Pairings
Friday, March 9 at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE

Friday, March 9 – First Round
1 PM - #3 seed Fort Lewis (25-4) vs. #6 seed Mary (19-9)
3 PM - #2 seed Metro State (25-3) vs. #7 seed Minnesota Duluth (18-9)
6 PM - #1 seed Wayne State (29-2) vs. #8 seed Minnesota State (18-10)
8 PM - #4 seed Augustana (23-6) vs. #5 seed CSU-Pueblo (21-6)

Saturday, March 10 – Semi-Finals
5 PM – FLC/MARY winner vs. Metro/UMD winner
7 PM – WSC/MSU winner vs. AC/CSUP winner

Monday, March 12 – Championship Game
7 PM – Semi-Finals winners


WATCH PARTY AT BUFFALO WILD WINGS
The University of Mary is hosting a women's basketball tournament watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings as the Marauders make their first NCAA appearance on Friday, March 9. The celebration begins at 12:30 PM and U-Mary and 12^th-ranked Fort Lewis College will tip off at 1 PM in Wayne, NE.


TOURNAMENT WEBSITE
http://www.wscwildcats.com/sports/2012/3/6/WBBALL_0306124505.aspx?id=274


RADIO BROADCAST
All Marauders postseason games will be broadcast live on ESPN 710 AM with Rick Anthony, Voice of the Marauders, providing all the action. Audio streaming of the game is available at www.espn710am.com.


VIDEO WEB STREAM
A video web stream of all Central Region games is available on www.nmtvsports.com.


LIVE STATS
A link to live stats can be found on the Central Region website.


TICKET INFORMATION
All tickets for the 2012 NCAA Division II Central Women's Basketball Regional Tournament are general admission and are good for all games during that session (one session per day; arena will not be cleared between games). Please see ticket representatives for re-admittance information if you intend to leave the arena and return at a later time that day.

Ticket prices:
$10 for adults all day FRIDAY, SATURDAY and MONDAY
$8 for seniors all day FRIDAY, SATURDAY and MONDAY
$5 for youth (ages 5-17) and college students each day
Children under the age of 5 are free

The ticket office and pass gates will open 60 minutes prior to the start of the first game of each daily session and the arena will open 60 minutes prior to the scheduled start of each game. There will be no advance ticket sales by phone for the tournament.

ACCOMODATIONS
Holiday Inn Express
Norfolk, NE
402.379.1524

Norfolk Lodge & Suites
Norfolk, NE
402-379-3833

Hampton Inn
Norfolk, NE
402.379.3585

Wayne Super 8
Wayne, NE
402-375-4898

Budget Inn
Norfolk, NE
402-371-2750

New Victorian Inn & Suites
Norfolk, NE
402-379-3035

Norfolk Country Inn & Suites
Norfolk, NE
402-371-4430

Norfolk Lodge & Suites
Norfolk, NE
402-379-3833

Rodeway Inn & Suites
Norfolk, NE
402-379-9779

Sports Club Motel
Wayne, NE
402-375-4222
Super 8
Norfolk, NE
402-372-3998

#marauders#