FLORENCE, S.C. - The Augusta State women’s basketball team opens play Friday in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional in Smith University Center on the campus of Francis Marion University.

Entering as the No. 5 seed, ASU (19-9) is making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons and will take on Shaw University. The Lady Bears, who are seeded fourth, currently sport a 21-11 record. The Lady Jags and Shaw are certainly no strangers in the postseason. ASU upset the top-seeded Lady Bears on their home court in the 2004 South Atlantic Regional quarterfinals in Raleigh, N.C., en route to a trip to the Elite Eight in St. Joseph, Mo.

Francis Marion is serving as host of the NCAA South Atlantic Regional, which gets underway Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Two semifinal contests are slated for Saturday, with the championship game set for Monday, March 17. The regional championship winner advances to the Elite Eight, being held this season in Kearney, Neb. Clayton State advanced out of the South Atlantic Regional last season.

Admission to the women’s regional is $8 for adults and $3 for students per session (2 games). A live webcast will be available free of charge throughout the entire South Atlantic Regional. For a full broadcast schedule, visit http://www.peachbeltsports.tv/

NCAA South Atlantic Regional
Francis Marion University 
Florence, S.C. -- Smith University Center
March 14, 15 & 17, 2008

FRIDAY (March 14) First-Round Games
No. 1 Wingate (23-7) vs. No. 8 Johnson C. Smith (21-9) 1 pm
No. 4 Shaw (21-11) vs. No. 5 Augusta State (19-9) 3 pm
No. 3 Clayton State (18-10) vs. No. 6 Francis Marion (21-8) 6 pm
No. 2 Lander (22-11) vs. No. 7 Tusculum (26-4) 8 pm

SATURDAY (March 15) Semifinals
6 pm (winners of Friday's 1 and 3 pm contests)
8 pm (winners of Friday's 6 and 8 pm contests)

MONDAY (March 17)
Championship game 7 pm