Women's College Basketball

Dates Set For NCAA Tournament in Trenton

LAWRENCEVILLE-Rider University, in conjunction with the Sovereign Bank Arena and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, will host the First and Second rounds of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament Sunday, March 19, and Tuesday, March 21, 2006. The dates became official this week.

The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee selected the Sovereign Bank Arena, a Global Spectrum-managed facility with experience in hosting NCAA Tournaments, as a site for the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships First-and Second-rounds last summer.

"Rider University is extremely pleased and excited to serve as a co-host for the 2006 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament," said Rider Director of Athletics Curt Blake. "It's an honor to be selected and we look forward to working closely with the MACC and the Global Spectrum staff at the Sovereign Bank Arena to make the event a tremendous success."

Global Spectrum's Eric Cuthbertson, General Manager of Sovereign Bank Arena announced in February the members that will comprise the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championships at Sovereign Bank Arena.

The 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds is the first major NCAA event to come to the Sovereign Bank Arena.  The arena hosted the 2003 EUS Communications MAAC Basketball Championships, and will host the 2009 MAAC Basketball Championships.  The MAAC and Rider successfully co-hosted the 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Albany's Pepsi Arena to sell-out crowds. 

For more information on the 2006 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship, including details on the ticket application process, visit www.ncaasports.com, or www.sovereignbankarena.com.

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