IOWA CITY, IOWA — The University of Iowa women’s basketball team has received an at-large berth into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championships. The Hawkeyes (20-12) are a No. 9 seed and will play No. 8 seed Miami (21-10, 11-7) from the Atlantic Coast Conference in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. First round action will begin Sunday at approximately 6:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised live on ESPN2, with Holly Rowe and Brenda VanLengen calling the action.
This marks Iowa’s 22nd trip to the NCAA Tournament. Head Coach Lisa Bluder has led the Hawkeyes to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in her 13 years at Iowa, including each of the last six years. Iowa is one of only 13 teams in the country to appear in the last six NCAA Tournaments (Baylor, Fresno State, DePaul, Tennessee, Stanford, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Duke, Georgia, Marist, Texas A&M, Connecticut, Iowa State).
The 2013 NCAA Championships will mark the 12th time the University of Iowa has served as a host. Iowa hosted its first NCAA action in 1986 when it was one of four regional final sites. Carver-Hawkeye Arena also hosted from 1987-90, 1992-94, 1996, 1998 and in 2009. The Hawkeyes hold a 9-5 record in NCAA Tournament games played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
The Hurricanes finished tied for fourth in the ACC this season. Iowa and Miami share four common opponents during the regular season; Penn State, Wisconsin, Florida State and North Carolina. Iowa was defeated by Penn State and picked up two wins over Wisconsin. The Hurricanes upset Penn State in Coral Gables and also picked up a win over Wisconsin.
Iowa fell to North Carolina in the Preseason WNIT championship game and dropped a road contest at Florida State. The Hurricanes lost two games against Florida State and dropped a close two-point decision at home against the Tar Heels.
Morgan Stroman and Stefanie Yderstrom were both first team All-ACC selections. Stroman leads the team with 12.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Yderstrom is next with 12 points per contest.
Iowa is 2-0 all-time against the Hurricanes, with both meetings coming during the 1985-86 season. The Hawkeyes defeated Miami, 83-63 on Nov. 29, 1985, on a neutral court in the Louisiana State Crawfish Classic. Iowa picked up a 75-46 win over Miami later that season on Feb. 10, 1986 in Iowa City.
Iowa is a No. 9 seed for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in school history.
The Iowa City first/second round site is a part of the Norfolk Regional. No. 1 seed Notre Dame will take on No. 16 seed UT Martin at 4:05 p.m. (CT) on Sunday. The two winners will meet in the second round Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. (CT).
