SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - For the first time in five years, the
Wittenberg University women's basketball team is headed for the
so-called "Big Dance," the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball
Tournament. The Tigers found out Sunday that they will be on the
road in the 2003 competition, starting with a game at
Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday,
March 5. The winner of the Wittenberg at Baldwin-Wallace game
Wednesday earns a date with seventh-ranked Wilmington in the second
round on Saturday.
Wittenberg, which has a 24-4 overall record and a perfect 16-0
NCAC mark already to its credit in 2002-03, is back in the NCAA
tourney for the first time since 1998 and the seventh time in
school history. The Tigers have a 1-6 record in NCAA tournament
action, dating back to their first appearance in 1989.
"We are very proud to have earned this opportunity," said
Wittenberg Head Coach Pam Smith, who has a 325-133 career record in
17 seasons at Wittenberg, her alma mater. "Baldwin-Wallace is a
very strong program, so this will be a tough challenge. It is
something we are really looking forward to."
Baldwin-Wallace has been ranked in the national top-20 and the
regional top-five all season while finishing second in the Ohio
Athletic Conference regular season and tournament competitions to
Wilmington. The Yellow Jackets, who carry a record of 24-4 into the
postseason, defeated Wittenberg at home 79-53 on Dec. 3.
Wittenberg earned the berth in the national competition by virtue
of a 72-58 win over Ohio Wesleyan in the 2003 North Coast Athletic
Conference Tournament championship game Saturday. Currently riding
a 19-game winning streak dating back to Dec. 30, the Tigers won the
NCAC Tournament for the sixth time since joining the conference
prior to the 1988-89 season.
The Tigers' success in 2002-03 can be traced in large part to a
phenomenal defensive effort that continually forces opponents into
an average of 41 percent shooting from the field and a whopping 27
turnovers per game, compared to 19 for Wittenberg. Individually,
senior guard Kate Rolf (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Carroll),
a two-time All-NCAC selection and the 2003 NCAC Tournament MVP,
leads the way with 11.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Senior
guard Stephanie Campbell (South Charleston,
Ohio/Southeastern) checks in with 11.1 points and 3.7
rebounds per game and senior forward Tiffany Keller
(Massillon, Ohio/Tuslaw), a three-time All-NCAC volleyball
player, averages 9.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
008-03