Women's Basketball | 3/10/2019 10:34:00 PM

    INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following a brief two-year hiatus, the West Liberty University women's basketball team is headed back to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament.
    Coach Kyle Cooper's Lady Hilltoppers learned late Sunday night that they will be heading to Glenville State later this week as the No. 8 seed in the 2019 Atlantic Regional. This is the 14^th NCAA Tournament bid in the past 20 years for the West Liberty women and their first since a "Sweet 16" run in 2016.
    The Black and Gold (21-9) will be facing a familiar foe as they will match up against No. 1-seeded tournament host Glenville State (29-2) for the fourth time this season in one of the four regional quarterfinal games set for Friday at the Waco Center.
    The Pioneers have won the three previous meetings but had to hold off furious fourth-quarter comebacks by the Lady Hilltoppers each time. The most recent win was a 96-85 decision in Saturday's MEC Tournament semifinals.
    The other side of the upper bracket finds two more familiar faces with No. 4 seed California, Pa. (24-5) going up against No. 5 Charleston (25-6). The Hilltoppers dropped their season opener at California back in early November and traded home wins with the Golden Eagles during the MEC regular season.
    Friday's other quarterfinals find No. 3 seed Indiana, Pa. (26-3) taking on Bowie State (22-5) and No. 2 seed Virginia Union (27-2) tangling with No. 7 Edinboro (20-8).
    Friday's quarterfinal winners advance to semifinal action on Saturday. The regional championship game is scheduled for Monday night.
    Tipoff times and ticketing information will be announced later this week by Glenville State.
    No. 3 Indiana, Pa. (26-3) vs. No. 6 Bowie State (22-5), tba
No. 2 Virginia Union (27-2) vs. No. 7 Edinboro (20-8), tba
No. 1 Glenville State (29-2) vs. No. 8 WEST LIBERTY (21-9), tba
No. 4 California, Pa. (24-5) vs. No. 5 Charleston (25-6), tba Indiana/Bowie State winner vs. Virginia Union/Edinboro winner, tba
Glenville State/WEST LIBERTY winner vs. California/Charleston winner, tba Saturday's winners, tba