NCAA Postseason Basketball Comes To Kolf Sports Center

Two historical programs and two Minnesota teams battle for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen when UW-Oshkosh hosts a NCAA Division III women's basketball regional on Friday and Saturday (March 7-8) in Kolf Sports Center.

The University of Northwestern-St. Paul (Minn.) and Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) open play Friday at 4:30 p.m. UW-Oshkosh then matches up with Saint Mary's University (Minn.) at 7 p.m.

Friday's winners will meet in the second round on Saturday at 7 p.m. The victor advances to the Sweet Sixteen on March 14 at a site to be determined.

Washington University (23-2) is making its 26th appearance and UW-Oshkosh (24-3) its 11th in the NCAA Division III Championship. Saint Mary's University (24-3) competes in the tournament for a third time. This is the first postseason visit for the University of Northwestern-St. Paul (20-7).

Champion of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament, UW-Oshkosh reached the big dance for the first time since 2000. The Titans own a 21-9 record in the NCAA Championship, winning the title in 1996 and placing second in 1995.

Sarah Stecker leads a balanced offense with an average of 11.9 points per game. UW-Oshkosh also gets 10.3 points from Katelyn Kuehl and 10.1 from Taylor Schmidt. Kuehl tops the Titans with 7.4 rebounds per game, while Ashley Neustifter ranks second in the WIAC with 99 assists. UW-Oshkosh allows just 54 points per contest with a rebounding margin of +6.0.

UW-Oshkosh started the season 12-0, scoring wins over NCAA postseason teams Loras College (Iowa) and St. Norbert College. Two of the Titans' losses came to 13th-ranked UW-Whitewater on Jan. 8 and Feb. 15.

Brad Fischer is in his second season leading the Titans. The 2013 WIAC Coach of the Year owns a 44-9 record.

Saint Mary's University received an at-large berth out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). The Cardinals' last two defeats came to the University of St. Thomas (Minn.), including a 71-58 loss in the MIAC Tournament title game. Saint Mary's rattled off 16 consecutive wins from Dec. 7 - Feb. 5 and captured the MIAC's regular-season championship.

The Cardinals have used the same starting lineup for all 27 games this season. Courtney Euerle paces the team with an average of 13.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Euerle also leads the squad with 32 blocks, while Bridget Pethke has 124 assists.

Mandy Pearson holds an 84-97 record during her seven years at Saint Mary's University. She was named the 2013 MIAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Cardinals to a 22-5 record.

Washington University is the University Athletic Association champion. The Bears have played in eight of the last 16 national title games, winning the crown in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2010. Washington University holds a 62-22 record during NCAA postseason action.

The Bears own a rebounding margin of +10.5 to rank eighth nationally. Melissa Gilkey leads the team in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (8.3) while shooting 49 percent from three-point range. Jordan Thompson has a team-best 120 assists.

In her 28th season, Nancy Fahey has coached Washington University to a 662-120 mark. She holds NCAA Division III records with five national titles and 10 Final Four appearances. Fahey led the Bears on an 81-game win streak from 1998-2001.

University of Northwestern-St. Paul earned a trip to Oshkosh with its 71-33 win over the University of Minnesota-Morris in the championship game of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Eagles rank fourth nationally with an average of 9.3 three-pointers per game. The University of Northwestern-St. Paul gets double-figure scoring from Mollie Sir (14.8), Chanel Madson (14.2) and Jessica Fife (12.1). Fife also leads the team with 255 rebounds and 45 steals.

Aaron Kahl is coaching his fourth year at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. His record of 60-45 includes a 16-10 mark last season.

The most recent D3hoops.com rankings have Washington University fifth, UW-Oshkosh 12th and Saint Mary's University 19th.

Daily ticket prices are $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for students. Children ages 2 and under will be admitted free.

UW-Oshkosh last hosted an NCAA women's basketball tournament game in Kolf Sports Center during 1996, when the Titans defeated the University of Mount Union (Ohio), 66-50, for the championship in front of a Division III-record 4,001 fans.

By Jon Feyen