Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Gets NCAA Regional
10/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - The city of Fresno is going dancing again.
Fresno State and the Save Mart Center have been selected as sites for the 2012 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Regional Championship, the NCAA announced Tuesday. Fresno was one of four cities given the honor, with additional regionals being held in Des Moines, Iowa, Kingston, R.I. and Raleigh, N.C.
The Fresno Regional will take place Saturday, March 24 and Monday, March 26 or Sunday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Exact dates will be determined in June. All of the games will be televised nationally, bringing great exposure to campus and community.
"It is terrific news that the NCAA Women's Basketball Regional will be returning to the San Joaquin Valley," said Thomas Boeh, Fresno State's Director of Athletics. "It is also extremely gratifying that the members of the selection committee were impressed with our institution's previous efforts and continue to harbor great confidence in the work of the professional staff within the Save Mart Center and Department of Athletics. This event will provide another opportunity for Fresno State to shine as we host an athletic event of national significance that will be viewed in millions of homes across the country."
The Save Mart Center, now in its eighth year as home to Bulldogs' basketball, is quickly becoming a popular venue for postseason women's hoops. Fresno State hosted to the regionals in 2007, an event that drew some of basketball's perennial powers, including Connecticut, LSU and North Carolina State. In 2005, the Bulldogs hosted the NCAA women's basketball first- and second-round events.
"This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our venue," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "We had some pretty big-time teams coming in (in 2007), with some visible coaches. It definitely gave a boost to the women's basketball community in the Valley. We want to be a part of it, more than just hosting it. That's a huge goal, and it's definitely a start having it here on campus."
" We are Your Team!" Fresno State's women's basketball team opens the 2010-11 season Nov. 6 with an exhibition against Fresno Pacific. For season tickets click on the tickets icon at the top of this page.
