UMKC Set To Enter 2012 Summit League Championship As No. 3 Seed
2/28/2012 2:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
South Dakota State (21-8, 16-2) won its third regular season title since joining the league in the 2007-08 season. The Jackrabbits have won 11 of their last 12 games and a league record three consecutive tournament titles. SDSU takes on No. 8 IPFW (9-20, 6-12) in the first quarterfinal on Saturday at Noon CT (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports). IPFW is led by Stephanie Rosado with 13.6 points per game.
The second quarterfinal of the day features No. 2 seed Oral Roberts (20-9, 14-4) and No. 7 Western Illinois (11-18, 7-11) at 2:30 p.m. CT (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports). The Golden Eagles, who lead the nation in steals (14.4 spg) as a team, are led by the league's leading scorer in Kevi Luper (23.9 ppg). The Fighting Leathernecks are led offensively by senior Sadie Webb who averages 14.6 points per contest.
Quarterfinal play resumes Sunday with No. 4 North Dakota State (11-19, 8-10) vs. No. 5 IUPUI (12-18, 7-11) at Noon CT (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports). The Bison won their final two league games to move up and secure the fourth seed and are led by Janae Burich with 10.2 points per game and 2.8 blocks per outing. The Jaguars are led by Kerah Nelson at 16.6 points per game.
The second game of the afternoon, and last quarterfinal game to be played, pits No. 3 UMKC (20-10, 11-7) against No. 6 Oakland (11-16, 7-11) at 2:30 p.m. CT (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports). The Kangaroos are led by guard Dayon Hall-Jones who tallied 43 points, the fourth-highest single-game total in the nation on Dec. 31. Meanwhile, the Golden Grizzlies are led by Bethany Watterworth who averages 18.9 points per game which ranks her 27th in the nation.
The winners of the 1 vs. 8 and 4 vs. 5 games will meet in the first semifinal Monday at Noon CT (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports) while the winners of the 2 vs. 7 and 3 vs. 6 games will advance to the second semifinal at 2:30 p.m. (Midco Sports Network/Fox College Sports).
Tuesday's championship game is set for 3 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
The Summit League will be playing its tournament in Sioux Falls for the fourth consecutive season. For the third straight year, all men's and women's quarterfinal and semifinal games will be televised by Midco Sports Network throughout South Dakota, North Dakota and parts of rural Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The 2012 Tournament marks the first time in league history that each game will be available live to a national cable television audience via Fox College Sports, who will show the men's and women's quarterfinals and semifinals via Midco Sports Network's feed. The Summit League Men's Basketball Championship game has appeared on ESPN or ESPN2 each of the last 18 years while the Women's Championship game will air on ESPNU for the fourth consecutive season.
Tickets for the 2011 Summit League Basketball Championship can be purchased at all TicketMaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Sioux Falls Arena Box Office.
All women's quarterfinal and semifinal games can be seen online through SummitTV live streaming with two available purchase options. For $3.99, fans can purchase a 24-hour pass to watch quarterfinal or semifinal games. For $9.99, fans can purchase a full package that includes all of the men's and women's quarterfinal and semifinal action.
For complete information on this year's tournament, click on the 2012 Summit League Basketball Championships button at www.thesummitleague.org.
