Falcons move on in NCAA Tournament

A spot in the Sweet 16 will be on the line Tuesday night when Bowling Green State University's women's basketball team, fresh off BGSU's first NCAA Tournament win since 1989, meets Vanderbilt in second-round play at East Lansing, Mich.

The opening tip will be at about 9:30 p.m., or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the evening's first contest, a 7 p.m. matchup between Rutgers and Michigan State. ESPN2 is scheduled to televise the game.

Seeded seventh in their region, the Falcons outlasted 10th-seeded Oklahoma State, 70-66, on Sunday for their 30th victory of the season and the berth against second-seeded Vanderbilt (28-5) at Michigan State University's Breslin Student Events Center. The Commodores advanced by beating Delaware State, 62-47.  

The BGSU win on Sunday was the program's first in NCAA play since its only previous tournament triumph, a 69-59 home win over Cincinnati 18 years ago. It was also the first victory by a Mid-American Conference team in the tournament since 1996.

In addition, the Falcons (30-3) became the first MAC team to win 30 games in a season and extended their BGSU record for victories in a four-year span to 102. They are 102-24 since this year's seniors came to Bowling Green four years ago.

For tickets to Tuesday's game in East Lansing, contact the Michigan State ticket office by phone at 800-GO STATE (467-8283) or online at msuspartans.com. Tickets will not be sold through BGSU's athletics ticket office.

The Falcon Club will provide bus transportation to the game at a cost of $25 for club members, $35 for nonmembers and $10 for BGSU students. Those prices do not include the cost of a game ticket. For reservations, call the Falcon Club at 419-372-7063 or 419-372-7100. Buses will leave campus from Lot L, just north of Doyt Perry Stadium, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

###

(Posted March 19, 2007)