Women prepare for NCAA action

SEATTLE—They may only be 180 miles away from their home court at the Stott Center, but the Portland State women’s basketball team is a long way from home at the NCAA Tournament.

The team makes its debut appearance in the Division I-level tournament later tonight at the University of Washington’s Bank of America Arena, but has been in Seattle since Thursday in preparation for the milestone event.

Yesterday was the team’s media day and featured open and closed practices, player and coach interviews and a press conference in front of the NCAA banner.

“It’s surreal,” said junior guard-forward Kelly Marchant, describing the atmosphere of the tournament.

For Portland State, the road to the March Madness in Seattle began in Cheney, Wash., exactly one week ago. It was there that the Vikings claimed the Big Sky Tournament title with a victory over Montana State, and with it the conference’s automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament.

As the fifth seed in the six-team tournament, the Vikings were underdogs then and remain the underdogs today when they face ninth-ranked Texas A&M.


“It’s just exciting to have another week to play, and staying alive another week,” said senior guard Claire Faucher. “Having this opportunity and knowing that we are the obvious underdogs and playing with the mentality that we have nothing to lose here.”

“We did not just come all this way to say we went to the tournament. We are here now and we want to make some noise, and not only represent Portland State, but represent the Big Sky (Conference),” she said.

Tip-off for No. 15 Portland State versus No. 2 Texas A&M in round one of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship is scheduled for 5:06 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

—All photos by Aaron Leopold, Daily Vanguard

Start your own Rec Club

Have you been sitting around thinking PSU is seriously lacking a lawn dart collective? Do you and your friends want to start a pinochle club? Would you like to form your very own football squad and challenge the PSU football team to a pickup game?

If any of the above is true, or if you just want to start your own rec club, you are in luck.

Campus Rec is now accepting applications for new student clubs for the 2010-11 academic year. The process is fairly simple, and all the information can be found here.

Don't sit on your keister and let this opportunity pass you by—applications must be turned in by April 9.

The road to San Antonio begins in Seattle

The brackets are set for the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, and in their first-ever trip to the Big Dance, Portland State is starting local.

The Vikings begin the tournament in Seattle as the No. 15 seed in the Sacramento Region, and are set to face No. 2 Texas A&M at 5:06 p.m. on Saturday at UW's Bank of America Arena. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Portland State (18–14) is making its first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament after earning the Big Sky Conference's automatic bid with Saturday's win over Montana State in the championship game of the conference tournament.

This year marks the fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament for Texas A&M (25–7). They won the Big 12 Conference Tournament for the second time in three years with a win over Oklahoma on Sunday.

A printable PDF of the complete tournament seeding is available here.

Women clinch Big Sky title

PSU defeats Montana State in Big Sky Championship

The Portland State women’s basketball team is the newly crowned champion of the Big Sky Conference.

The Vikings defeated Montana State, 62–58, yesterday in Cheney, Wash., to win their first-ever Big Sky title, and with it the conference’s automatic berth in the NCAA Women’s Tournament.

Saturday saw several firsts. In addition to setting up PSU’s first NCAA Tournament appearance, it was the first time in Big Sky history that two quarterfinalists met in the championship game, and as the No. 5 seed, the Vikings became the lowest seeded team to ever win the conference tournament.

Photo courtesy Portland State Athletics Department

 

“We did it the hard way, but we did it,” head coach Sherri Murrell said in a television interview after the game.

Not only will her team be competing in the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time, but this will also mark Murrell’s first time in the Big Dance.

“To be a part of history is something very special. It means a lot to the players who have battled hard,” she said. “It took me 20 years of my career to do it, so I’m pretty happy.”

Senior guard Claire Faucher, the Tournament MVP, broke the conference and school records in both three-pointers attempted and three-pointers made when she shot 8 for 16 from behind the arc.

Let the postseason begin

The Portland State men's basketball team just began their quarterfinal game of the Big Sky Tournament against Montana State, and there are three ways to catch the postseason action. The game can be followed via live stats, audio or video.

Will PSU make it to the semifinals? Follow the game to find out.