EMU Enters as Top Seed for the Third Straight Season

FOREST, Va. --- Much was left to be decided in the final week of the ODAC women's basketball regular season, especially on Sunday's final play date after many reschedules due to inclement weather.  Eastern Mennonite University put the finishing touches on a one-loss conference campaign to stake its claim to the top seed in the upcoming ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament for the third straight year.  The Royals and the remaining top four seeds in the 12-team tournament field earn byes into the quarterfinals.

EMU (15-1) is joined by Randolph-Macon College (13-3) as winners of 20 overall games during regular season competition.  The Yellow Jackets own the second seed, while Lynchburg College (12-4) will play as the three seed.  Virginia Wesleyan College (10-6) and Guilford College (10-6) ended the regular season with identical conference records, but VWC came out on top via a pair of head-to-head wins during the regular season, awarding the Marlins the fourth seed.

Seeds five thru eight will host first round games, with the winners joining the top four seeds in Salem for the quarterfinals.  The Quakers are the fifth seed and will host 12th-seeded Hollins University (1-15). The sixth and seventh seeds were determined by head-to-head results, with Washington and Lee University (8-8) playing out of the sixth position and Emory & Henry College (8-8) earning the seventh seed.

Bridgewater College (7-9) secured the eighth seed outright, but there was a three-way tie for seeds 9 thru 11. Shenandoah University (4-12) earned the ninth seed thanks to its win over W&L on Sunday afternoon, while Randolph College (4-12) owns the 10th seed. Roanoke College (4-12) will play out of the 11th position and will travel down I-81 to play the Generals in first round competition. The Eagles will host SU in game number one on Tuesday evening in Bridgewater, Va., while the WildCats head to face the Wasps in Emory, Va. 

Tournament play begins on Tuesday, February 24, with four first round contests at the previously mentioned 5-8 seeds.  The winners of those four games will join the top four seeds in Salem at the Salem Civic Center for the quarterfinals on Friday, February 27.  Semifinals will be on Saturday, February 28, followed by the championship game on Sunday, March 1.

Listed below is the full schedule for the 2015 ODAC Women's Basketball Tournament.  For more information, visit any of the participating schools' websites, or go to the ODAC tournament website by clicking HERE.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @odacathletics.

All games in Salem can be watched LIVE on ODAClive.com, the conference's new championship streaming network.  First round games can be watched LIVE thru each host school.  Check the tournament website, bracket and schedules for links.

2015 ODAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS AND SCHEDULE 

INTERACTIVE BRACKET 

First Round - Tuesday, February 24 - at highest seeds
Game 1: #9 Shenandoah at #8 Bridgewater - 7:00 p.m.
Game 2: #12 Hollins at #5 Guilford - 7:00 p.m.
Game 3: #10 Randolph at #7 Emory & Henry  - 7:00 p.m.
Game 4: #11 Roanoke at #6 Washington and Lee  - 7:00 p.m.

Quarterfinals - Friday, February 27 - Salem Civic Center
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. #1 Eastern Mennonite - 1:00 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. #4 Virginia Wesleyan - 3:00 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. #2 Randolph-Macon - 6:00 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. #3 Lynchburg - 8:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, February 28 - Salem Civic Center
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 - 6:00 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 - 8:00 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, March 1 - Salem Civic Center
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10 - 3:30 p.m.