Vikings win, will play in semifinals tonight at 6:30

The Western Washington University women's basketball team has reached the national semifinals.

The Vikings, 29-3 overall and ranked No.5 in the USA Today NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, meet Ashland University at the Elite Eight of the NCAA II National Tournament on Wednesday, March 27 (6:30 p.m. PT) at Bill Greehey Arena in San Antonio, Texas (host St. Mary's University and San Antonio Sports), with a berth in Friday's national championship game at stake.

Wednesday's contest will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network (Comcast Channel 630) and Root Sports Northwest (Comcast Channel 30) and broadcast on radio on KPUG 1170. The game also will be shown live on the web at NCAA.com.

The Vikings have won 12 consecutive games, and 23 of the last 24, following an 80-76 overtime victory over Nova Southeastern in the quarterfinals Tuesday. They arrived at the Elite Eight after claiming the West Region tourney, which they hosted at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

WWU opened the regional with a 70-50 triumph over Academy of Art, and defeated Cal State Monterrey Bay, 71-63, in the semifinals, before winning the regional crown with a 75-58 victory over Simon Fraser.

Leading the way for WWU, which also claimed the regular-season and tournament championships of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, is a trio of seniors - center Britt Harris, guard Corinn Waltrip and forward Trishi Williams.

Harris, a Daktronics third-team All-American and West Region Player of the Year, and an honorable mention WBCA All-American, averages 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds a contest and ranks third nationally in field-goal percentage at 60.3 percent (181-of-300). Harris had a game-high 24 points in the victory over Nova Southeastern, nine of them in overtime.

Waltrip, also a first-team all-region pick and named regional tourney Most Outstanding Player after scoring 29 points in the championship game, averages 12.4 points and 3.6 assists while shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range. Williams, a second-team all-GNAC pick, contributes 10.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists.

Ashland, located in Ashland, Ohio, is 35-1 overall and ranked No.2 nationally, and reached the semifinals with a 74-63 triumph over Gannon in the national quarterfinals Tuesday. The Eagles are led by senior forward Kari Daugherty, named NCAA Division II National Player of the Year by both Daktronics and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Daugherty, who was also the WBCA POY in 2011-12, is averaging 22.1 points and 13.7 rebounds a contest. Senior forward Daiva Gerbec, an honorable mention Daktronics All-American, contributes 14.7 points and 9.5 rebounds.

This is just the second trip to the Elite Eight for WWU. In 2000, the Vikings claimed an 84-67 triumph in the quarterfinals over Slippery Rock, before falling in the semifinals, 80-74, to eventual national champion Northern Kentucky. This is the 14th national tournament appearance for WWU in 15 years as a NCAA member.

Ashland is 35-1 after defeating Gannon, 74-63, in the quarterfinals. The nationally No.2-ranked Eagles won the Midwest Regional and took both the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. They are the only repeat Elite Eight team from last year, reaching the championship game before losing to Shaw, 88-82.

Leading coach Sue Ramsey's team is WBCA and Daktronics National Player of the Year Kari Daugherty. The 6-1 senior, who also was WBCA national POY last season, is averaging 22.1 points and 13.7 rebounds.

Receiving honorable mention All-America honors was 6-0 senior forward Daiva Gerbec (14.7 ppg, 9.5 rpg).

Two others averaging double-figure points for Ashland are 5-8 sophomore guard Taylor Woods (11.9 ppg, 3.6 apg) and 5-9 junior guard Alyssa Miller (10.6 ppg).

The Eagles, who began the season 24-0, have won 11 straight since a 66-51 loss to Findlay on Feb. 14.