The Gustavus women’s basketball team received word on Sunday night that it has received an invitation to participate in the 2007-08 NCAA Division III National Tournament. Coach Mickey Haller’s squad, which has compiled a record of 18-9, received one of 21 at-large berths to the tournament. The Gusties will travel to Indianola, Iowa and play host Simpson College on Friday.
The University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire, 22-6, will face Carleton College, 19-9, at 5:00 p.m., while Gustavus will face host Simpson College (25-2) in the other game at approximately 7 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game, on Friday evening. The winners will play on Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. for the right to advance to the sectional round at a site to be determined.
This is the second consecutive national tournament appearance for the Gustavus women’s basketball team and the fifth time that its program has received an invitation to the NCAA Tournament (1990-91, 1994-95, 2002-03, 2006-07, and 2007-08). In March of 2003, the Gusties defeated Loras in a first round game at Gustavus, before losing to Pacific Lutheran University in the second round. The Gusties have compiled an all-time mark of 1-4 in NCAA Tournament play.
Friday night’s contest will mark the first meeting between Gustavus and Simpson. Simpson, which will be making its fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament, was the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and post-season champions.