Elite Eight facts
Here are some facts and figures regarding March 29's NCAA Division II Championship Game between the University of South Dakota and Northern Kentucky University.
- The University of South Dakota Coyotes and the Northern Kentucky Norse have never faced other in women's basketball.
- The Norse played in their third national championship game. NKU has faced a team from the North Central Region in all three championship games. The Norse defeated North Dakota State 71-62 in overtime in 2000 to win the national championship. Second-year graduate assistant Jamie Berry was a member of that NDSU squad.
- NKU was defeated by South Dakota State 65-50 in 2003 in the Jackrabbits second-to-last year in Division I.
- USD was the first North Central Region team to play in the championship game since SDSU.
- NKU was 25-15 in 11 appearances of NCAA postseason play while USD was 8-7 in eight berths in the tournament.
- The Norse and Coyotes didn't share a common opponent from this season.
- Coming into Saturday evening's game, the Norse had the second worst record of any team the Coyotes have played in the NCAA tournament (27-8). Colorado State-Pueblo was 21-9 heading into the opening round before losing to the Coyotes 66-55.
- The Coyotes have won their five NCAA tournament games by an average of 9.8 points. The Norse have won by an average of 8.8 points.
- NKU is 5-0 in games played at a neutral site while USD is 4-1 in games played at a neutral site.
- NKU won nine of the last 10 games since Feb. 28. The Norse won their last five games after losing their final regular season game.
- While March 29's national championship game was for the Division II title, six total players for the Coyotes and the Norse transferred from D-I schools.
- Senior center Angela Healy has been the high-point scorer for NKU in a team-high 14 games. Junior guard Jessica Slack has recorded the most points in 12 games. Junior forward Cassie Brannen has been the top scorer in seven games.
- Senior guard Jeana Hoffman has scored the most points for the Coyotes in a team-high 22 games. Junior forward Bridget Yoerger has been high-point for the Coyotes six times.
- Four of the 11 players on NKU's roster are from Kentucky. The Norse have six players from Ohio.
- NKU has the only player from either squad to have a player from a different country. Freshman guard Rita Stefan hails from Miskolc, Hungary.
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