PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Eastern Connecticut State University and the University of Southern Maine will represent the Little East Conference in the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. The NCAA office broadcast the announcement of the 63-team tournament field this morning on NCAASports.org.

Eastern Connecticut State University (24-4) is making its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament after capturing the Little East Conference Championship Tournament and accompanying automatic bid this past weekend in Gorham, Maine. The Warriors edged top-seeded University of Southern Maine in overtime, 65-60. Eastern Connecticut will face the University of Rochester (20-5) on March 7 at 6 p.m. at the University of Scranton (Pa.). The Yellowjackets, runners up in the University Athletic Association with a 10-3 mark, earned one of the 21 Pool C berths into the tournament field.

The University of Southern Maine (25-3) also received a Pool C bid into the national tournament, marking the programs 14th consecutive appearance and 22nd overall. The nationally-ranked Huskies will face Brandeis University on Friday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Kean University in Union, N.J.  The Judges (18-7) earned their third straight trip to the to the NCAA Division III tournament after being awarded an at-large berth. Brandeis finished its regular season with an 18-7 overall record and a 9-5 mark in the UAA. The winner advances to the second round the following evening at 7 p.m. to face the winner of the Utica College (17-10) and host Kean University (25-3) match up.

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