#17 Franklin Pierce Earns Sixth NCAA Tournament Bid
Third-seeded Ravens return to NCAA Tournament for first time since 1999

RINDGE, N.H. (March 9, 2008) – Franklin Pierce University, ranked 17^th in this week’s USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division II poll has earned an at large bid to the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Tournament it was announced by the Division II selection committee tonight.

           Franklin Pierce is seeded third in the eight-team Northeast Regional to be hosted by top-seeded and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champions Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pa., next weekend. The Ravens will face sixth-seeded Dominican College (22-8, 14-3 CACC), runners up in the CACC, in the opening round on Friday. Franklin Pierce defeated the Chargers, 70-59, in Blauvelt, N.Y., in December. The regional will continue with regional semifinals on Saturday and the regional title game on Monday night.

           “We’ve been given a tremendous opportunity with our selection into the NCAA tournament,” said Franklin Pierce Head Coach Mark Swasey. “The sacrifices everyone has made from the players, coaching staff and administration have finally come to fruition. The program has worked very hard to get back to the tradition it had developed in the 1990’s.”

           Franklin Pierce (24-5, 18-4 NE-10) is making its sixth trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament in program history and its first since 1999. The Ravens also made NCAA appearances in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1998. The Ravens, who finished second in the Northeast-10 Conference regular season standings, have matched the program record for wins set in 1991-92 and also matched in 1997-98.

           “The team would also like to thank the professors, students and community members who came out and supported us in our two NE-10 tournament games last week,” said Swasey. “We did not play well in the NE-10 tournament, but now we have the opportunity to get back on track.”      

            The complete Northeast Regional schedule is expected to be released on Monday.

2008 NCAA Division II
Northeast Regional
hosted by Holy Family University, Philadelphia, Pa.
March 14, 15 & 17

#1 Holy Family University (30-0, 18-0 CACC)
#2 Stonehill College (26-4, 19-3 NE-10)
#3 Franklin Pierce University (24-5, 18-4 NE-10)
#4 Bentley College (19-9, 15-7 NE-10)
#5 Assumption College (21-9, 15-7 NE-10)
#6 Dominican College (22-8, 14-3 CACC)
#7 Bryant University (20-11, 12-10 NE-10)
#8 Molloy College (19-11, 14-6 ECC)