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Sam Santilli

Women's Basketball Michael McDonald, Assistant Sports Information Director

NCAA Atlantic Regional Preview -- Cardinals Meet Panthers on Friday

Full NCAA DII Women's Basketball Bracket 

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL 

WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Jesuit women's basketball team is seeded sixth in the 2017 Atlantic Regional Tournament, which will be hosted on the campus of California (Pa.), who earned the overall one seed in the region. Cal will face Glenville State, the eighth seed, in the first round. 
 
The Cardinals play the third seeded Virginia Union Panthers at 12:00 on Friday, March 10. 
 
Second seeded Indiana (Pa.) plays No. 7 Johnson C. Smith, who claimed the CIAA Tournament title. Shippensburg earned the fourth spot and will play fifth seeded Mercyhurst.
 
Wheeling Jesuit earned its second consecutive NCAA tournament berth, last year earning a four seed and defeating West Chester University in the first round before falling to host Virginia Union in the round of 32.
 
#3 Virginia Union vs. #6 Wheeling Jesuit - 12:00 p.m. - Friday, March 10 
During the regular season, the Panthers and Cardinals played two common opponents, with VU facing off against Shepherd and Charleston, defeating both Mountain East schools.
 
In their respective tournaments, the Panthers fell in the semifinals to Johnson C. Smith while the Cardinals ran the table in Charleston, claiming back-to-back tournament titles.
 
WJU is led by three All-Conference performers – Monica Burns, Mariah Callen and Jaana Motton. Burns shoots 37 percent from both the field and from three and 94 percent from the line, averaging 15.4 points per game. Callen chips in 13.2 points and 4.6 assists while Motton adds 12.8 points and 9.3 rebounds.
 
Virginia Union is guided by Lady Walker, who swept the regular season CIAA player awards, winning both the offensive and defensive player of the year. Walker averages 14 points and 11.3 rebounds and started in all 27 games, averaging over 30 minutes of action. Walker blocked 1.9 shots per game and averaged 1.3 steals.
 
Atlantic Region matchup notes
The eight-team field will battle at Hamer Hall on the campus of Cal. Pa. with first round games scheduled for Friday, March 10 and second round games on Saturday. The regional championship will be played on Monday, March 14. 
 
#1 California (Pa.) vs. # 8 Glenville State - 5:00 p.m. - Friday, March 10 
California (Pa.) maintained its top overall spot heading into the Atlantic region tournament and will serve as the host site. The Vulcans drew eighth-seeded Glenville State, who entered championship week as the three seed in the regional rankings. Glenville was upset by Charleston in the quarterfinals of the MEC tournament and took a tumble, clinching the last spot in the Atlantic region.
 
#2 Indiana (Pa.) vs. # 7 Johnson C. Smith - 2:30 p.m. - Friday, March 10 
IUP won the PSAC championship, 84-79, over top seeded California (Pa.). The Crimson Hawks shot their way past Mercyhurst and Shippensburg in the first two rounds before knocking off the favorite Cal. Pa. Vulcans on Sunday. Johnson C. Smith enters the NCAA tournament 7-1 over its last eight games, including a victory over Virginia State in the CIAA Championship last Saturday. In the semifinals, Johnson C. Smith took down the top-ranked and favorite Virginia Union Panthers, 81-75.
 
#4 Shippensburg vs. #5 Mercyhurst - 7:30 p.m. - Friday, March 10 
Shippensburg fell to Indiana (Pa.) in overtime in Saturday's PSAC semifinal contest, 58-67. Before Saturday's loss, Ship had won its last 19 outings, dating back to Dec. 28. Mercyhurst slipped up in the PSAC quarterfinals to IUP, 61-78. Over their last five games, Mercyhurst is 4-1 including a win over California (Pa.) on February 22. 


 
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Players Mentioned

Monica Burns

#13 Monica Burns

G
5' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
Mariah Callen

#1 Mariah Callen

G
5' 4"
Junior
Jaana Motton

#42 Jaana Motton

F
5' 11"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Monica Burns

#13 Monica Burns

5' 6"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Mariah Callen

#1 Mariah Callen

5' 4"
Junior
G
Jaana Motton

#42 Jaana Motton

5' 11"
Senior
F