Women's Basketball Punches Ticket for the NCAA

Coming off a 21-9 regular season, the Golden Eagles had to wait twenty-five minutes while the selections were delayed by the end of the Men's Big 12 Championship, but once the announcements began, they waited no more than two minutes.

"It was great to see our name up there early, which took some of the drama out of it," said Head Coach Terri Mitchell. "I was thinking 10-11-12 seed, but to get a 9 shows that the committee has respect for us and our conference."

The ninth seed in the Mid-East Region, Marquette will take on eighth-seeded Old Dominion in the first round, in Durham, N.C. on Sunday, March 21. This will be the Golden Eagles' second trip to Durham for an NCAA match-up, having lost to Western Kentucky in the first round of the 1999-2000 Tournament.

Mitchell said, "The seniors came here to go the NCAA Tournament. That was their dream and their goal, and they made it happen. Marquette's all about basketball and tradition. The NCAA Tournament is where we belong."

The winner of the Marquette-Old Dominion contest will take on the winner of the game between top-seed and host Duke and Northwestern State.

Tickets are available on-line at GoDuke.com, the official site of Duke Athletics. Adult reserved tickets are $27, general admission are $17, youth and senior tickets are $17 for reserved and $12 for general admission. For more information, contact the Marquette ticket office at (414) 288-GOMU.

Comments on the selection
HEAD COACH TERRI MITCHELL
"It's an unbelievable feeling. You never want to take it for granted that you'll see your name up there."

SENIOR GUARD KATIE O'GRADY
"I really can't believe it right now. It's hasn't hit me yet. To see our name up there is something I'll never forget."

SENIOR GUARD KELLY SCHWERMAN
"It means so much to see our name up there. It's a great way to end my career."

SENIOR FORWARD CRYSTAL WEAVER
"All I can say is finally. I saw Marquette on the screen and it didn't register right away."