Haley Warden
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Wittenberg University Men's and Women's Basketball teams both earned invitations to the 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament, which opens action this week on campuses across the nation. The Tiger women received the North Coast Athletic Conference's automatic bid into the tournament after winning the NCAC regular season and tournament for a second consecutive season. The Tiger men were selected as one of six at-large teams from around the nation after losing in the NCAC Tournament game on Saturday against the College of Wooster.
The Tiger women, who have a 23-5 overall record, will host a first-round game against Penn State-Behrend at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 3. Wittenberg, which has won 19 straight games dating back to Dec. 20 against Thomas More College, has never won an NCAA Division III first round game in seven previous appearances, including 2003 in which the Tigers lost 64-57 at Baldwin-Wallace College.
NCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Haley Warden (Loveland, Ohio/Indian Hill) is averaging 14 points and 9.9 rebounds per game to lead Wittenberg. She is part of a five-person senior class that is carrying the load for the Tigers, who have won 36 straight NCAC regular season games, dating back to Feb. 2, 2002, and 38 consecutive NCAC games, including regular season and tournament, over the last two years.
The Tiger women are coached by Pam Smith, Wittenberg Class of 1982, who has an 18-year record at her alma mater of 348-139. Her Wittenberg teams have won 10 NCAC regular season titles and seven NCAC Tournament titles, and the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament eight times in her career.
The Tiger men, who have a 24-4 overall record, received a first-round bye and subsequently will host a second-round game at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 6. Wittenberg is making its 22nd appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament, the most of any school, and will take on the winner of the John Carroll University/Calvin College first round match-up hosted by John Carroll on Thursday.
Wittenberg, the winningest NCAA Division III program in history with 1,482 wins all-time, has an overall record of 56-28 in national tournament play, including seven years as part of the old College Division between 1959 and 1974. The Tigers have finished third three times, second twice and first once (in 1977) in 21 previous appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. In the College Division, Wittenberg finished second in 1963 and won a national title in 1961.
Seniors Peter Walker (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) and Rod Emmons (South Bend, Ind./John Adams) are the glue for the 2003-04 Tigers. Walker leads the team in scoring and ranks second in rebounding, while Emmons is one of the top three-point shooters and perimeter defensive players in school history.
The Tiger men are coached by Bill Brown, Wittenberg Class of 1973, who has an 11-year record at his alma mater of 250-61 and an overall 17-year record of 310-160. His Wittenberg teams have won six NCAC regular season titles and two NCAC Tournament titles, and the Tigers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament seven times in his career. The team's best finish under his direction came in 1994 when the Tigers advanced to the Final Four and wound up in third place.
Ticket prices are $5 for reserved seats, $4 for general admission and $3 for seniors, students and children. Anyone under the age of two will be admitted free of charge. There is no pre-sale of tickets. Doors will open one and one-half hours before each game, and there will be an advanced sale of tickets for the men's game on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m.
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