LITTLE ROCK — After a day of practice and interviews, the UALR women’s basketball team prepare for the first round of the NCAA Championships today as the Trojans face No. 3 Delaware. Tip-off is set for 4:20 p.m. at The Jack Stephens Center.
This is the Trojans third-straight appearance in the NCAA and second-straight automatic berth from winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. This will be the first time in the NCAA Tournament the Trojans will get to play in front of a home crowd.
UALR enters the tournament 20-12 overall as the No. 14 seed. The Trojans have won the past seven games including the last in the SBC Tournament final against Middle Tennessee 71-70 in overtime.
Overall for the Trojans, freshman Taylor Gault leads the team in points averaging 16.3 per game, while senior Marian Kursh averages a team-high 8.1 rebounds per contest.
Delaware enters the tournament 30-1 overall with the Blue Hens only loss at No. 5 Maryland. Delaware has won the past 20 games including the last in the finals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament as the Blue Hens won 59-43 over Drexel.
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The Blue Hens won the team’s first-ever CAA title to gain the automatic berth. This is Delaware’s third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history and first since 2007. The Hens have never recorded a post-season victory in eight appearances, including six WNIT berths.
Delaware is led by All-American Elle Delle Donne, who averages team’s highs of 27.5 points and 10.3 rebounds. She also leads the nation in scoring.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.