Florida Tech Receives At-Large Bid to NCAA DII South Regional Championships
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Florida Tech Panthers receive an at-large bid to NCAA Division II final 64 show heading to the #1 seed and host Florida Gulf Coast
in Fort Myers, Fla. The #7 Panthers (23-6) will face the #2 Delta State Lady Statesman (26-3) beginning on Friday 9th on the opening day of the 2007
Women’s Basketball South Region Championships. The Panthers will play in the second game of the day at 2:00 p.m. on the 9th in Alico Arena on the campus of
FGCU. Ticket prices will be $6 general admission and $3 for students, they will also have all session passes for $20.
This is head coach John Reynolds’ along with the program’s seventh appearance in post-season play making their last trip to the South Regional in the
2004-2005 campaign where they fell in the first round to Valdosta State. Prior to that appearance, the Panthers won the 2001-2002 NCAA DII South Regional
Championships. Ironically, Delta State occupies a special place in Florida Tech’s history with the Panthers becoming the only women’s basketball program to
ever cut down a net in the storied Lady Statesman home. The defeated Arkansas Tech to take the title and make their first ever Elite Eight.
The other six teams making up the bracket of eight in the South Region include the #1 undefeated Florida Gulf Coast Eagles (29-0) who will face the #8
Benedict College (20-10). The Eagles are independent while Tigers are the only school to make it from the SIAC after defeating previously ranked Ft. Valley
State in their conference championship.
Fellow Sunshine State Conference member’s the University of Tampa Spartans (23-7) and Rollins College Tars (24-6) each garnered the #5 and #6 spots
respectively. They will face the Delta State’s colleagues from the Gulf South Conference #3 Arkansas Tech (21-9) and #4 Valdosta State (23-6).
Tampa was the winner of the 2007 Sunshine State Conference title earlier today after defeating Rollins 68-66 in overtime action. The Spartans were one of
only three automatic bids winning the tournament championships.
During the final ceremonies of the 2007 SSC Women’s Basketball Tournament senior Jen Tamilio, who was named the 2007 SSC Player of the Year, was also named
to the 2007 All tournament team along with Rollins’ Jennifer Musgrove and Laurissa McDonough and Tampa’s Shay Mackey, Sheena Walton and Most Outstanding
Player Alexa Kane.
As stated earlier Benedict picked up the second automatic qualifier while Delta State defeated Arkansas Tech 66-59 to win their bid from the Gulf South.
The remaining five schools were chosen by the NCAA Division II women’s basketball committee.
For more information on the 2007 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championships:
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/story/10038519
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/brackets/viewable/2007/DII
Directions to the Alico Arena: From the north (via I-75) Take I-75 South to Exit 128, Alico Rd. Go east (left) on Alico Rd. for
half a mile. Go
south (right) on Ben Hill Griffi n Pkwy for two miles. Turn left at the main FGCU entrance (third stoplight). After
entering campus, follow signs to Alico Arena.
From the south (via I-75) Take I-75 North to Exit 123, Corkscrew Road. Go east (right) on Corkscrew Road for
half a mile. Turn north (left) on Ben Hill Griffi n Pkwy; go three miles to FGCU entrance. Turn right at the stoplight.
Follow signs to Alico Arena. For more information on Florida Gulf Coast check out their website at http://www.fgcu.edu/athletics/ .
