Nationally-ranked East Division champion Louisiana College went 18-2 in league play earned the right to host the 2012 American Southwest Conference Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament at H.O. West Fieldhouse in Pineville, La., beginning Friday and lasting through Sunday.
The entire eight-team, single elimination event will be available for fans through free live video streaming with audio provided by LC and the ASC. The Conference will have a “Tournament Central” page on ASCsports.org/HOOPS where the link to live video can be accessed as well as live local radio feeds, box scores, game recaps, post-game interviews, photos and the updated bracket.
Louisiana College (22-3) and head coach Jason Tinsley, who won the East Division title for the third straight year, will begin play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday against West Division No. 4 seed Hardin-Simmons (13-12). LC has won 14 of its last 15 games entering the tournament and has a 38-game winning streak on its home floor dating back to Jan. 29, 2009. The Lady Wildcats raised the ASC trophy, the only East Division team ever to do so, the last time they hosted in 2010. LC is the highest-scoring team in the country, averaging just under 90 points per game. HSU has won a league-record six ASC titles – the last coming in 2004.
Concordia Texas (20-4) and head coach Rusty Rainbolt enter as victors of the West Division for the first time in program history. The Tornados went 18-3 in league play and won eight of their final nine games down the stretch, including half of those against fellow West Division tournament qualifiers. CTX begins its quest for a first conference title Friday when it tips off in the first quarterfinal of the day at noon against the East Division’s No. 4 seed, Ozarks (13-12). UO is making back-to-back appearances at the tourney for the first time since 2006-2007.
East Division runner-up Texas-Dallas (19-6), which earned its first tournament game win in program history last year, enters as the East No. 2 seed and will open play at 2:30 p.m. on Friday against the West’s No. 3 seed, Howard Payne (20-5). HPU is the defending conference champion and has won five league crowns overall. The Lady Jackets also claimed the NCAA Division III title in 2008.
McMurry (18-7) is the West’s No. 2 seed and at 5 p.m. on Friday will take on East No. 3 seed Mississippi College (16-9). McMurry won the ASC title in 2006 and has six runner-up finishes, including one to LC in the 2010 event. MC has lost in the first round the last eight years, with over half of those coming by less than 10 points.
The semifinals are scheduled to tip off Saturday at 2 p.m. (CTX-UO winner vs. UTD-HPU winner) and 4:30 p.m. (McM-MC winner vs. LC-HSU winner), with the championship game coming Sunday at 2 p.m.
The ASC championship tournament winner earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship.
NOTES:
– Admission prices for each day will be $6 for adults and $3 for students/seniors. An all-tournament pass will be available for $12. No complimentary pass lists will be accepted.
– Souvenir tournament T-shirts (short sleeved) will be available for $15. Official conference merchandise will also be for sale, including caps ($15), beanies ($10) and ear warmers ($10). Only cash and checks will be accepted.
– H.O. West Fieldhouse address: 1140 College Dr., Pineville, LA, 71360.
– Returning All-Tournament Team selections from 2011 are most valuable player Brittany Roberson and Jasmin Thomas of Howard Payne, and Roslyn Wilmer of Louisiana College.
– This is the 14th season the ASC has sponsored a women’s basketball championship tournament.
– Teams from the West Division hold an 12-1 advantage in ASC titles won.
– The host team has won six overall titles, including the last two.
– The hosting rights of the tourney rotate from East to West each year.
– Talk about, check scores of ASC basketball tournaments on Twitter: #ASChoops
2012 ASC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
-Hosted by Louisiana College / Pineville, LA / H.O. West Fieldhouse-
Friday, February 24
Quarterfinals
Game 1: [W1] Concordia Texas (20-4) vs. [E4] Ozarks (13-12), 12:00 p.m.
Game 2: [E2] Texas-Dallas (19-6) vs. [W3] Howard Payne (20-5), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: [W2] McMurry (18-7) vs. [E3] Mississippi College (16-9), 5 p.m.
Game 4: [E1] Louisiana College (22-3) vs. [W4] Hardin-Simmons (13-12), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 25
Semifinals
Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 26
Championship
Game 7: Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
