Feb. 1, 2005

Columbia, S.C. –
When people think of women’s collegiate basketball, they think of the Southeastern Conference and the league’s domination of the sport the last 15 years.

With six national championships, 10 runner-up finishes, a nation-leading 27 Final Four appearances and 81 first-team All-America honors, the SEC stands firmly as the nation’s premier intercollegiate women’s basketball conference.

On Feb. 7, 1980, the first SEC women’s basketball tournament began play. It ended four days later with Tennessee defeating Ole Miss for the title. Fast forward 25 years later and the SEC Tournament is still enjoying success and increased popularity.

Beginning with its inception and through 1986, the tournament was held at campus sites. The tournament was then sent to Albany, Ga., which served as the site for six years from 1987-92. The tournament then moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., where it was was held from 1993-2000, with the exception of 1998 when the tournament
moved to Columbus, Ga.

Since 2001 the tournament has enjoyed many new sites, including Memphis (2001), Nashville (2002, 2004) and Little Rock, Ark. (2003).

This year the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament makes its way to the eastern part of the conference as the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, S.C. will host.

The winner of the 11-game tournament will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament seeds and conference champion will be determined by the 14-game regularseason SEC schedule. The top four seeds earn a first-round bye.

The 2005 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament will once again enjoy live television coverage. FOX Sports Net South continues its dedication to SEC events by televising all first round, all second round as well as both semifinal games. The championship game will again be televised on ESPN2.

Tickets for this year’s event are currently on sale.

Prices are: reserved tournament book, $75; general admission Dr Pepper Six-Pack tournament book, $45; reserved single-session (six sessions total), $15; general admission single-session, $10.

FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 3
1:00 p.m. Seed #8 vs. Seed #9 [RSN]
3:15 p.m. Seed #7 vs. Seed #10 [RSN]
7:00 p.m. Seed #5 vs. Seed #12 [RSN]
9:15 p.m. Seed #6 vs. Seed #11 [RSN]

SECOND ROUND
Friday, March 4
1:00 p.m. Seed #1 vs. Game 1 winner [RSN]
3:15 p.m. Seed #2 vs. Game 2 winner [RSN]
7:00 p.m. Seed #4 vs. Game 3 winner [RSN]
9:15 p.m. Seed #3 vs. Game 4 winner [RSN]

SEMINFINALS
Saturday, March 5
7:00 p.m. Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner [RSN]
9:15 p.m. Game 6 winner vs. Game 8 winner [RSN]

FINALS
Sunday, March 6
7:00 p.m. Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner [ESPN2]

All Times Eastern^TMTM