Mount Union women to host Sweet 16

Staff report

ALLIANCE

Mount Union will host one of the sectional rounds of the NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament Friday and Saturday.

The Purple Raiders (28-1), ranked No. 6 in the nation, plays host to No. 16 Illinois Wesleyan at 7 p.m. on Friday, following No. 22 Centre (Ky.) against Carthage (Wis.).

Mount Union has won a school-record 23 consecutive games and have won 25 in a row at home. On Saturday night the Purple Raiders rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit to stun Muhlenberg (Pa.) 61-55 in a second-round game.

Illinois Wesleyan (24-5) is in the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year. Last year the Titans advanced to the Final Four.

Carthage (22-7 earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, but defeated No. 19 Wisconsin-Whitewater, 74-68 and No. 4 DePauw (Ind.) 53-48.

Centre (26-3) beat Guliford (N.C.) 59-45 in the first round before a 57-55 upset of No. 9 Washington (Mo.) in the second round. Centre is making its seventh NCAA tournament appearance and the Colonels made the Final Four in both 1989 and 1990.

The winner of this sectional advances to the national semifinals and finals next weekend in Holland, Mich.

Tickets for the games will be $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and students. All tickets will be general admission and available at the door starting at 4 p.m. on Friday.