Salukis gear for MVC women's tournament

The SIU women's basketball team looks toward a possible NCAA tournament berth with the State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament this week at The Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.

Going for a tournament bid — Freshman center Paris Campbell (13) and the Saluki women's basketball team are competing in the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament this week. SIUC faces Bradley in an opening-round game Thursday, March 13.

The No. 9-seed Salukis open tournament play at 6:05 p.m., Thursday, March 13, against eighth-seed Bradley. SIUC finished the regular season 9-19 overall, 5-13 in the MVC. With a win on Thursday, the Salukis face No. 1 seed and conference tri-champion Illinois State at 12:05 p.m., Friday in a quarterfinal game.

The tournament runs through Sunday, March 16. Tickets remain for the tournament.

Tournament semifinals are Saturday while the title game is at 2:05 p.m. Sunday. FSN Midwest and Comcast SportsNet Chicago are televising both semifinal games on Saturday, and also Sunday's championship game.

On Wednesday, junior guard-forward Erica Smith was named to the 2008 MVC All-Defensive team, while guard Ellen Young was chosen to the league's All-Freshman team.

On Tuesday, three Salukis, senior guard Erin Pauk, senior guard Jayme Sweere, and Smith received honorable mention 2008 MVC Scholar-Athlete honors.

All session tickets are $45. Adult single-session reserved tickets are $15; senior citizen, students, and youth tickets are $10. Single-session general admission tickets are $7.

Tickets can be bought in person at the box office, or by credit card by phoning Metrotix at 800-293-5949, or online at metrotix.com. Several tournament ticket promotions are also available.