INDIANAPOLIS - Green Bay has claimed the top seed in the 2010 Speedway Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. The winner of the League's 10-team tournament earns an automatic berth into the 64-team NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
Green Bay, 26-3 overall and 15-3 in Horizon League action, snags the outright regular-season title after winning its final eight conference affairs. The Phoenix owns a 162-16 (.910) League record over the past 11 seasons and has won at least 20 contests each year during the stretch.
Green Bay has clinched at least a share of the Horizon League's regular-season title in each of the past 12 campaigns, which ranks as the nation's longest active streak. The defending tournament-champion Phoenix has also guaranteed itself a 33rd consecutive winning season, dating back to 1977-78.
Butler (21-8, 14-4) earns the tournament's No. 2 seed after tying its school record for most League wins in a season. The Bulldogs, who have won nine of their last 10 contests, have posted a .500-or-better conference record in each of the past seven years.
Detroit (16-13, 14-4) improves five spots from a season ago and earns the tournament's No. 3 seed. The Titans began their campaign 1-9, but have won 15 of 19 affairs since.
Cleveland State (16-13, 11-7) earns the tournament's No. 4 seed. The Vikings, who have won four of their last five games, captured the 2008 conference tournament title.
No. 5 UIC (12-17, 9-9), No. 6 Loyola (15-14, 9-9) and No. 7 Wright State (10-18, 6-12) occupy the tournament's next three positions, while No. 8 Valparaiso (9-20, 6-12), No. 9 Milwaukee (11-18, 6-12) and No. 10 Youngstown State (0-29, 0-18) sit in the final three spots.
The 2010 Speedway Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship begins on Monday with two first-round tilts -- Youngstown State at Wright State (7 p.m. ET) and Milwaukee at Valparaiso (8 p.m.).
Wednesday's schedule includes four quarterfinal contests -- UIC at Cleveland State (7 p.m.), Loyola at Detroit (7 p.m.), the #7/10 winner at Butler (7 p.m.) and the 8/9 winner at Green Bay (8 p.m.).
Friday's semifinals and Sunday's championship will be hosted by the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals. The tournament finale will be televised live by ESPNU at 1 p.m.
Top-seeded Green Bay posted a 65-41 win over seventh-seeded Milwaukee in the finale of the 2009 Speedway Horizon League Women's Basketball Championship. Green Bay advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament, while Butler moved on to the second round of the WNIT. The Phoenix has reached postseason play every year since 1998.
Visit www.HorizonLeague.org and www.HorizonLeagueNetwork.tv for complete coverage of this year's Speedway Horizon League Championship.
2010 SPEEDWAY HORIZON LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First-round -- Monday, March 8
#10 Youngstown State at #7 Wright State -- 7 p.m. ET -- HLN
#9 Milwaukee at #8 Valparaiso -- 8 p.m. ET -- HLN
Quarterfinals -- Wednesday, March 10
#5 UIC at #4 Cleveland State -- 7 p.m. ET -- HLN
#6 Loyola at #3 Detroit -- 7 p.m. ET -- HLN
#7/10 winner at #2 Butler -- 7 p.m. ET -- HLN
#8/9 winner at #1 Green Bay -- 8 p.m. ET -- HLN
Semifinals -- Friday, March 12 (at highest remaining seed after quarterfinals)
Semifinal #1 -- TBD -- HLN
Semifinal #2 -- TBD -- HLN
Championship -- Sunday, March 14 (at highest remaining seed after quarterfinals)
Championship -- 1 p.m. ET -- ESPNU
Tags: All Teams - Women's Basketball · Horizon League - Women's Basketball
