Texas Tech to host 2013 NCAA women's basketball tournament
Texas Tech was named one of the 16 host sites for the 2013 NCAA women’s basketball tournament, the NCAA committee announced Monday.
United Spirit Arena will host first- and second-round games on either March 23 and 25 or March 24 and 26, 2013. The dates will be finalized in June.
Baylor and Texas A&M were also selected to host opening-round games.
“It’s a great honor,” Texas Tech coach Kristy Curry said. “I appreciate our administration putting a bid out, showing their commitment and we’re very honored to be a part of a really special group.
“For the state of Texas to have three bids is pretty spectacular.”
The four selected regional sites are Norfolk, Va.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Spokane, Wash.; and Trenton, N.J.
Other cities chosen to host first- and second-round games in 2013 include Baton Rouge, La.; Boulder, Colo.; College Park, Md.; Columbus, Ohio; Durham, N.C.; Iowa City, Iowa; Knoxville, Tenn.; Louisville, Ky.; Newark, Del.; Queens, N.Y.; Spokane, Wash.; Stanford, Calif.; and Storrs, Conn.
“It’s awesome,” senior forward Jordan Barncastle said. “Hopefully having a couple years under their belt in a row (at the tournament) that will be really cool for them to host the first round here. The crowd I’m sure will be amazing. I think it’s a really cool opportunity that we should take advantage of.”
Tech has hosted the NCAA tournament 10 times, the last coming in 2009. The Lady Raiders went 16-15 that year and didn’t receive an invitation.
South Dakota State, Baylor, TCU and Texas-San Antonio played in the Lubbock regional. Only 2,353 fans showed up to watch Baylor take on SDSU in the second round.
Asked if being left out in 2009 would provide greater motivation for the Lady Raiders in 2013, Curry was noncommittal.
“Just excited about the future and moving forward with it,” Curry said. “I hadn’t thought much about the past.”
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2013 NCAA women’s basketball tournament first- and second-round sites
City Venue Host
Baton Rouge, La. Pete Maravich Assembly Center LSU
Boulder, Colo. Coors Events Center Colorado
College Park, Md. Comcast Center Maryland
College Station Reed Arena Texas A&M
Columbus, Ohio St. John Arena Ohio State
Durham, N.C. Cameron Indoor Stadium Duke
Iowa City, Iowa Carver Hawkeye Arena Iowa
Knoxville, Tenn. Thompson Boling Arena Tennessee
Louisville, Ky. KFC YUM! Center Louisville
Lubbock United Spirit Arena Texas Tech
Delaware, Del. Bob Carpenter Center Delaware
Queens, N.Y. Carnesecca Arena St. John’s
Spokane, Wash. McCarthey Athletic Center Gonzaga
Stanford, Calif. Maples Pavilion Stanford
Storrs, Conn. Gampel Pavilion Connecticut
Waco Ferrell Center Baylor
