PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Overall top-seeded UConn and No. 6-seeded USF were selected by the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Sport Committee to participate in the field of 64 teams for the 2016 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.
In addition to the two NCAA tournament teams, Memphis, Temple and Tulane were chosen for the 2016 Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
UConn, which captured the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships for the third consecutive season, is looking to become the first women’s basketball team to claim four straight NCAA titles. The Huskies (32-0) enter the tournament with a 69 game winning streak - third longest in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history - and are in pursuit of their 11th national championship. As the No. 1 seed in the Bridgeport Region, UConn begins the tournament against No. 16 seed Robert Morris in Storrs, Connecticut, on Saturday, March 19 at 11 a.m. ET (ESPN2).
USF returns to the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year. The Bulls, also in the Bridgeport Region, open tournament play in Los Angeles, California, against No. 11 seed Colorado State on Saturday, March 19 at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2). USF produced its fourth 20-win season and enters the Big Dance with an overall record of 23-9.
Memphis (18-12) returns to the WNIT for the first time since the 2012-13 season. The Tigers will face UT Martin at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Thursday, March 17. The Skyhawks have a 21-9 record on the year and are the automatic qualifier from the Ohio Valley Conference. The winner of Thursday night’s game will play the winner of Dayton and Western Kentucky.
Temple (20-11) makes its second consecutive appearance in the WNIT. The Owls are scheduled to play at Drexel on Friday, March 18. The Dragons (19-13) are the automatic qualifier out of the Colonial Athletic Association. Temple advanced to the semifinal of last year’s tournament and will be competing in its sixth WNIT.
Tulane (21-11) will begin play in the WNIT against Alabama on Wednesday, March 16 inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse. The Crimson Tide earned an at-large bid out of the Southeastern Conference and enter the contest with a 15-15 overall mark. The Green Wave reached 20 wins for the seventh straight year and will be making its seventh appearance in the WNIT.
American Athletic Conference Selections to the 2016 Postseason
NCAA First Round - Saturday, March 19
No. 16 seed Robert Morris at No. 1 seed UConn - Storrs, Conn. (11 a.m., ESPN2)
No. 11 seed Colorado State vs. No. 6 seed USF - Los Angeles, Calif. (9 p.m., ESPN2)
WNIT First Round - Wednesday, March 16
Alabama vs. Tulane - New Orleans, La.
WNIT First Round - Thursday, March 17
UT Martin vs. Memphis - Memphis, Tenn.
WNIT First Round - Friday, March 18
Temple at Drexel - Philadelphia, Pa.
All times Eastern