HSU women's basketball to host NCAA Tournament first week games

The Hardin-Simmons women's basketball team will host first and second round NCAA Tournament games at the Mabee Complex on March 4-5.

The NCAA released its Division III brackets on Monday afternoon with the Cowgirls facing Trinity University (San Antonio, TX) in the opening round on Friday.

Whitman (Walla Walla, WA) and Whittier (Whittier, CA) will square off in the other first round game at the Mabee Complex.

The winners will meet in round two on Saturday.

HSU earned its spot in the NCAA Tournament by winning the American Southwest Tournament this past week with wins over Sul Ross, East Texas Baptist and UT Dallas.

It's the Cowgirls first ASC title since 2004, and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006.

HSU is 21-4 this season and has won nine straight games. The Cowgirls defeated Trinity 65-63 on November 12 -- the third game of the season.

Trinity has not lost since that day with the Tigers running off 24 consecutive victories.

As of mid-afternoon on Monday HSU had not yet announced start times for the two NCAA Tournament games on Friday, and one on Saturday.