Maryville to Face Lake Forest in NCAA First Round

2/26/07

ST. LOUIS – The Maryville University women’s basketball team will face Lake Forest College in first round action of the NCAA Division III Tournament this Friday, March 2. Tip-off time is 7 p.m.

The Foresters, who drew the top seed in the Central Region bracket, will host the Saints, and the winner will go on to face the winner of Washington University (Mo.) vs. Manchester College on Saturday, March 3, also at Lake Forest.

Maryville stands at 22-5 after sweeping through the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and post-season tournament. The Saints captured their fourth consecutive regular season conference championship with an 18-0 record. They now have a 60-game regular season conference win streak. The Saints also captured their second consecutive conference tournament championship with a 66-52 victory over Principia College that secured their third NCAA Tournament appearance.

Head coach Chris Ellis and his squad are 1-2 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Last season they recorded their first-ever victory, with a 48-41 win versus Lakeland College. Maryville lost in the second round, 75-48, to host Wheaton College.

The matchup between Maryville and Lake Forest will be the first-ever for the two teams. Lake Forest is 23-2 on the season and was crowned the Midwest Conference Tournament champion with a 64-56 victory versus Carroll College (Wis.). In last week’s polls, the Foresters were ranked first in the Central Region, 16th in D3hoops.com Top 25 and 20th in the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.