March 10, 2002

NEW ORLEANS, La. - -

NCAA Tournament Bracket

The Tulane women's basketball team picked up an at-large bid to the 2002 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, earning its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, the Division I Women's Basketball Committee announced on Sunday.

Tulane, who has posted a record of 23-10 this season, earned a No. 10 seed in the West Region and will face No. 7 seed Colorado State in the first round. The Rams, 24-6 overall, are ranked 15th in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and 18th in the most recent Associated Press listing.

Tulane and Colorado State will meet on Saturday in Stanford's Maples Pavillion as the first game of a doubleheader in the West Region. Host and No. 2 seed Standford will meet No. 15 Weber State in the second game. The winners of the two games will meet Monday with a spot in the Sweet 16 at stake.

"We're obviously very excited to be making our eighth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament," Tulane head coach Lisa Stockton said. "We were one of the last few teams listed on the Selection Show, but we are glad to be in this position. We seem to get a tough draw every year, and this year is no exception, but there are so many talented teams in women's college basketball."

This is the second straight season that the Green Wave have earned a No. 10 seed. Last year, the Wave faced No. 7 seed Florida State in the first round in Ames, Iowa, dropping a 72-70 decision to the Seminoles. Tulane is one of just 12 schools to have appeared in each of the last eight NCAA Tournaments

Tulane and Colorado State have met twice, with each team winning an in-season tournament game on its own home floor. The Rams claimed a 76-56 win in the championship game of the Coors-Rocky Mountain Invitational (Nov. 26, 1994) in Fort Collins, Colo. Two years later, the Green Wave returned the favor, posting a 105-72 win in the championship game of the Tulane/DoubleTree Classic (Dec. 29, 1996) in New Orleans.

Tulane fans interested in ticket information may call the Tulane Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE.