For the first time in institution history, the Falcon men's and women's basketball teams will be competing in the NCAA Tournament in the same year.
"Having both our men's and women's basketball teams competing in the NCAA National Tournament in the same year is an historic event for UWRF," said Falcon Athletic Director, Roger Ternes. "UWRF and the greater River Falls community is extremely proud of the young men and women who compete for the Falcons. The players and the coaches have worked and sacrificed to make their goals a reality."
The men's team earned the chance to host first and second round games this weekend. The Falcons won the WIAC's Tournament Championship with a
64-58 win at UW-Whitewater on Sunday. The Falcons enter the tourney with a 20-7 record and this is the second straight year the Falcons have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Last year's team lost to Illinois Wesleyan, 83-76, in a first round game.
"It's great to be back in the NCAA tourney for a second straight year," said Falcon Coach
Jeff Berkhof. "The experience of playing in the tourney last year will only help us this year. We had a taste of it and I know the guys want to have a better showing this time around."
UWRF will face
Edgewood College on Friday at 8 p.m. The Eagles won the Northern Athletics Conference playoff title with an 80-72 win over Lakeland College to earn the conference's automatic berth. Edgewood is 22-6.
On Friday at 5:30 p.m.,
Gustavus Adolohus College will play
Wheaton College. Both teams earned at-large berths into the tourney. Wheaton enters the tourney with a 21-6 record while Gustavus Adolphus is 20-7.
Friday's two winners will play at 7 p.m., on Saturday. All games wil be played at the
Karges Center.
Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m., on Wednesday in the Athletics office in Hagestad Hall. Tickets are $8 for adults and $3 for students (with ID) and senior citizens. Children age two years and under will be admitted free.
"It's important that all fans know we will be running a split session on Friday," said Ternes. Karges Center will be cleared after the first game. Anyone wanting to re-enter to watch the second game will have to purchase another ticket. Tickets will also be on sale at the door. Tickets for Saturday's game will be sold after Friday's first game concludes. They will remain on sale after Friday's second game. Tickets will also be available before Saturday's game.
There will be 745 tickets available to each group of fans from Wheaton and Gustavus Adolphus. Half the tickets will be for adults and the other half for students and senior citizens. Almost 500 tickets will be available for Edgewood College fans. About 990 tickets will be available for UW-River Falls fans. Once again, half the tickets will be for adults and the other half for students and senior citizens. Tickets for Saturday's game will follow the same format.
The Falcon women will play
Coe College at 5:30 p.m., on Friday at the
University of St. Thomas.
"We're really excited to have the opportunity to participate in the NCAA Tournament," said Falcon Coach
Cindy Holbrook. "Our team has worked hard all year for this and I'm proud of our players for earning this chance to win a championship. It's especially exciting to have both our men's and women's teams in the tournament, and having four WIAC women's teams invited is a testament to the strength of the WIAC."
The Falcons earned an at-large berth into the tourney based on their 21-6 overall record. Coe won the Iowa Conference Tournament with a 79-59 win over Simpson College on Saturday. They enter the tourney with a 20-7 record.
This is UWRF's fourth appearance in the NCAA Tourney and the first since the 1995 season. The team also qualified for the tourney in 1988 and 1989. In 1995 the Falcons lost at UW-Whitewater, 72-72, in a first round game. In 1988 the Falcons lost to St. Norbert, 79-78. In 1989 the Falcons beat St. Norbert, 93-74, but lost a second round game to UW-Eau Claire, 83-73. All of those games were played at the Karges Center.
In the other semifinal game,
St. Thomas plays Martin Luther College at 8 p.m., on Friday. St. Thomas won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference playoff title and Martin Luther won the Upper Midwest Conference playoff championship. St. Thomas beat Gustavus Adolphus, 66-5,4 and Martin Luther beat UM-Morris, 69-63. The Tommies are 26-1 and the Knights are 20-7.
Ticket prices will be announced on Tuesday. Check the
St. Thomas web site for ticket information.
