ST. JOSEPH – For the first time since 2007, the Missouri Western women’s basketball team will compete in the NCAA Championships.

The team received the No. 3 seed in the central regional that will be hosted by No. 2 seed Pittsburg State. Missouri Western (27-3) will play Arkansas Tech (26-3) in the first round of the tournament on March 11 at 8:30 p.m.. Emporia State earned the No. 1 seed in the region, but will not host due to scheduling issues. Winona State is the No. 4 seed in the region, Fort Hays State the five, Sioux Falls the seven and Northern State earned the No. 8 seed.

Tickets will go on sale Monday morning at the Pittsburg State Ticket Office or by calling (620) 235-4796. Tickets are $30 for an all-sessions pass, $10 for an adult single-session ticket and $3 for a student single-session ticket.

This is the program’s 12th regional appearance. The Griffons are 7-9 all-time in regional games with two regional championships (1994 and 95). This will be the first time Missouri Western has faced Arkansas Tech in NCAA Championship play. The only central regional participant Missouri Western has ever faced in the NCAA Championships is Emporia State. The Griffons lost both meetings, one in 2000 and the last in 2003.

No. 1 Emporia State vs. No. 8 Northern State
No. 2 Pittsburg State vs. No. 7 Sioux Falls
No. 3 Missouri Western vs. No. 6 Arkansas Tech
No. 4 Winona State vs. No. 5 Fort Hays State

— MWSU Athletics —