VWC and EMU Enter Tournament Play on the Road

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- Virginia Wesleyan College will be joined by Eastern Mennonite University in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament, marking the fourth time in six years that the ODAC has received multiple entries in the women's ranks.  The Marlins' entry into the tournament was guaranteed after earning the conference's automatic bid by winning their first-ever league crown, but the Royals had to wait to learn if their season would continue as one of 20 at-large selections.

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The women's basketball tournament begins this coming weekend with all 64 teams in action in first and second round play on March 6-7.  Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites March 13-14.  Winners of the four sectional sites will advance to the national semifinals March 20-21. All games, except the semifinals and final, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. The finals will be conducted at Van Noord Arena on the campus of Calvin in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Virginia Wesleyan (19-9) is part of a four-team first and second round pod at New York University (21-4) and will square off against the host school. NYU also welcomes Eastern (22-5) and Amherst (23-3). The Marlins earned their spot in the tournament by winning the ODAC championship for the first time in school history with a 59-57 win over Lynchburg College, which affords them the conference's automatic entry.

Eastern Mennonite (22-4) is making its fourth appearance on the national stage. EMU needed an at-large bid to enter this year's foray and the Royals, who were last ranked second in the region, match up with La Roche (22-5) in the first round at host Thomas More (27-0). The host Saints will face Greensboro College (24-4) in first round action.

For more information on the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament, go to www.ncaa.com.  For more on ODAC women's hoops, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.