SELECTION- DAY PRIMER / NCAA Women

HOW IT SHOULD SHAPE UP

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Staff writer Mike Terry provides comments for the schools that have automatic bids and those expected to receive at-large bids to the NCAA women’s tournament.

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RPI rankings are through games of March 12.

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AUTOMATIC BIDS (31)

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*--* 2 DUKE 27-3 Alana Beard’s last chance to go out as a national champion. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 4 PURDUE 27-3 Boilermakers repeat as Big Ten champions. BIG TEN

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*--* 7 HOUSTON 27-3 Mr. De Mille, Chandi Jones is ready for her close-up. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 10 VANDERBILT 24-7 After so-so season, Commodores were surprise winners of the SEC tournament SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 15 STANFORD 24-6 Is the Cardinal ready at last for a deep tournament run? PACIFIC 10

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*--* 16 BOSTON COLLEGE 25-6 Eagles are the latest to conquer Connecticut. BIG EAST

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*--* 17 OKLAHOMA 23-8 The ultimate survivor of the Battle for the Big 12. BIG 12

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*--* 21 OLD DOMINION 25-6 Lady Monarchs have won 13 consecutive conference tournaments. COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSN.

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*--* 27 LOUISIANA TECH 27-2 Yes a 19-game winning streak, but against what kind of competition? WESTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* 35 TENN. CHATTANOOGA 28-2 Unbeaten this season in conference play (20-0). SOUTHERN

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*--* 40 MONTANA 27-4 First season with more than 25 victories since 1997. BIG SKY

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*--* 45 SW MISSOURI STATE 28-3 Bears making their 12th NCAA appearance in the last 14 years. MISSOURI VALLEY

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*--* 46 TEMPLE 21-9 Owls are as tenacious as their coach, Dawn Staley. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 48 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 24-5 Lions riding school-record 15-game winning streak. WEST COAST

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*--* 57 SANTA BARBARA 25-7 Playing host to first and second round gives Gauchos a shot at Sweet 16. BIG WEST

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*--* 58 MAINE 25-6 Black Bears are back after a four-year absence. AMERICA EAST

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*--* 59 M. TENNESSEE STATE 23-7 Making its first NCAA appearance since 1998. SUN BELT

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*--* 67 LIBERTY 25-6 Flames have won a record eight consecutive conference titles. BIG SOUTH

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*--* 71 EASTERN MICHIGAN 22-7 Eagles’ best season under Coach Suzy Merchant. MID-AMERICAN

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*--* 74 AUSTIN PEAY 23-7 Lady Govs have won the last four OVC tournaments. OHIO VALLEY

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*--* 79 NEW MEXICO 23-7 Lobos defeated Utah by 21 points in tournament final. MOUNTAIN WEST

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*--* 80 WISCONSIN GREEN BAY 23-7 Played half the season with eight healthy players. HORIZON

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*--* 83 ST. FRANCIS (PA.) 25-5 Senior guard Tonjee Ward had 24 points in tournament final. NORTHEAST

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*--* 92 MARIST 20-10 Red Foxes had their second-ever 20-victory season. METRO ATLANTIC ATHLETIC

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*--* 103 VALPARAISO 20-11 Jenna Stengler (10.7) the only Crusader in double figures. MID-CONTINENT

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*--* 105 NORTHWESTERN STATE 24-6 Senior guard Cooda Dobin a three-time NCAA assist leader. SOUTHLAND

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*--* 118 PENNSYLVANIA 17-10 Senior forward Jewel Clark is a player to watch. IVY LEAGUE

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*--* 130 LIPSCOMB 20-11 Was also conference’s regular-season champion. ATLANTIC SUN

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*--* 148 COLGATE 21-9 First-time winners of regular season and tournament titles. PATRIOT LEAGUE

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*--* 152 HAMPTON 17-12 Pirates miraculously recover from a 1-9 start. MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC

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*--* 161 SOUTHERN 17-12 Upset favored Jackson State in tournament semifinals. SOUTHWESTERN ATHLETIC

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AT-LARGE BIDS (33)

*--* 1 TENNESSEE 26-3 Can Lady Vols reach Final Four without Loree Moore? SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 3 PENN STATE 25-5 Played the nation’s the second-toughest schedule. BIG TEN

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*--* 5 TEXAS 28-4 Big 12 title-game loss will cost Longhorns a No. 1 seed BIG 12

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*--* 6 CONNECTICUT 25-4 The two-time defending champion looks vulnerable. BIG EAST

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*--* 8 KANSAS STATE 24-5 Wildcats have a knack of falling short in big games. BIG 12

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*--* 9 LOUSIANA STATE 23-7 Seimone Augustus may be the nation’s best sophomore. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 11 TEXAS TECH 24-7 Spent a week at No. 1 in the coach’s poll. BIG 12

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*--* 12 TEXAS CHRISTIAN 24-6 Houston is responsible for half the Horned Frog losses. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 13 FLORIDA 18-10 Many WNBA eyes are on center Vanessa Hayden. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 14 GEORGIA 22-9 Bulldogs coughed up 18-point lead in SEC title game. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 18 COLORADO 22-7 Buffs enter tournament having lost five of their last nine games. BIG 12

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*--* 19 MICHIGAN STATE 21-8 Spartans hung around the Top 25 most of the season. BIG TEN

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*--* 20 NORTH CAROLINA 24-6 At least the Tar Heels won’t see Duke any time soon. ATLANTIC COAST

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*--* 22 RUTGERS 21-11 Will make tournament field because of its strong schedule. BIG EAST

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*--* 23 BAYLOR 24-8 Bears are 6-1 this season on neutral courts. BIG 12

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*--* 24 VILLANOVA 22-6 This year’s win over the Huskies doesn’t have the same pizazz. BIG EAST

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*--* 25 AUBURN 21-8 Loss to Vanderbilt in SEC tournament can’t be considered an upset now. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 26 MIAMI 22-6 A relative unknown despite being in the Top 25 this year. BIG EAST

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*--* 28 VIRGINIA TECH 22-7 Hokies held to 34 points in Big East tournament loss. BIG EAST

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*--* 29 DEPAUL 22-6 Enters the tournament having lost its last four games. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 30 NOTRE DAME 19-10 Irish can beat anybody and lose to anybody. BIG EAST

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*--* 31 MINNESOTA 21-8 Gophers are dangerous if Lindsey Whalen can play. BIG TEN

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*--* 32 OHIO STATE 20-9 Played Purdue tough in the Big Ten semifinals. BIG TEN

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*--* 33 ARIZONA 24-8 Wildcats remember last year’s first-round flameout. PACIFIC 10

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*--* 34 GEORGE WASHINGTON 22-7 Best victory was over Oregon when Ducks were ranked. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 36 MARQUETTE 21-9 Held opponents to less than 58 points a game this season. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 37 LOUISVILLE 20-9 Didn’t beat DePaul or TCU in conference play. CONFERENCE USA

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*--* 38 IOWA 16-12 A bubble team that could easily burst. BIG TEN

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*--* 39 UTAH 24-7 Utes have to hope Mountain West gets selection committee respect. MOUNTAIN WEST

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*--* 41 ARKANSAS 16-12 Senior Shameka Christon is the SEC player of the year. SOUTHEASTERN

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*--* 44 RICHMOND 20-9 Spiders deserve a ticket to the tournament. ATLANTIC 10

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*--* 51 UCLA 17-12 Bruins have the speed and chutzpah to surprise. PACIFIC 10

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*--* 55 WEST VIRGINIA 21-10 Mountaineers quietly had a solid Big East season. BIG EAST

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