Miami Set To Make Its Fifth NCAA Tournament Appearance All-Time

March 16, 2003

CORAL GABLES, Fla.-The University of Miami women’s basketball team (18-12) will travel to face New Mexico (22-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament next Saturday (March 22) at The Pit in Albuquerque. The Hurricanes are the No. 11 seed, while the Lobos are the No. 6 seed.

The Hurricanes received an at-large bid into the tournament and are making their fifth NCAA appearance. New Mexico received an automatic bid after defeating BYU 52-46 Saturday in the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Las Vegas.

The other first-round game in The Pit matches No. 3 seed Mississippi State (23-7) against No. 14 seed Manhattan (20-9). Saturday’s winners will meet Monday evening (March 24) to determine who advances to the Midwest Regional, which is also being hosted by the University of New Mexico March 29 and 31.

Miami is making its first appearance in the tournament since the 1998 season. Miami fell in the first round to Celmson (60-49) on March 14, 1998. Miami is 2-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

New Mexico is making its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third showing overall. The Lobos have yet to win a game in the tournament, losing to Nebraska in 1998 and to Notre Dame last year.

Tickets for first and second-round games, and the Midwest Regional are currently available online at www.golobos.com.

For ticket information, contact the Hurricane Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-CANES.