STEVENS POINT, WI - After two days of preparations and activities at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, the Tufts women's basketball team will take the court tonight at 6 pm EST in an NCAA Championship semi-final against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham with a berth into the national championship game on the line.
Visit the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's (UWSP) "Final Four" website to follow the game:
http://athletics.uwsp.edu/sports/2014/2/26/WBB_0226143613.aspx
The Jumbos touched down in Milwaukee on Wednesday around noon and boarded a bus for the two-hour trip north to Stevens Point. The team drove straight to the UWSP campus and practiced at Berg Gymnasium. After checking in at their hotel, the team returned to the campus for a Team Social with the other three teams competing at the site (FDU-Florham, Wisconsin-Whitewater and Whitman).
A busy Thursday included a film session at the hotel, a team press conference at UWSP, an official NCAA "Final Four" photo session and a practice at Quandt Fieldhouse, where the game will be played. After lunch at the facility, the team particpated in a community service activity with elemenary school children from the Stevens Point area. Returning to the hotel for a few hours of downtime, the team then attended the Championship Banquet.
Tufts Photo's Kelvin Ma is traveling with the team and logged these galleries of the first two days in Wisconsin:
Video of the Tufts press conference on Thursday morning featuring head coach Carla Berube and senior tri-captains Caitlin McClure, Liz Moynihan and Ali Rocchi can be watched here.
The Championship Banquet included a phenomenal video titled, "The Road to Stevens Point" and included footage shot at Cousens Gym in Medford by Tufts graduate Arlin LaDue. Watch it here.
The Jumbos have received a lot of media attention surrounding their trip to the "Final Four." Here's a summary of features which have appeared in the last few days:
Boston Herald
Littlest Jumbo inspires Tufts in title chase, by Steve Buckley (video included)
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Carla Berube has Tufts women in their first Final Four, by Jen Tolland
D3hoops.com
Jumbos play huge on defense, by Brian Lester
Hoopsville interview with senior tri-captain Liz Moynihan, by Dave McHugh
(Liz appears approximately 1:24.30 into the show)
NCAA.com
A first-time champion will be crowned, by Brian Fancis
Kenebec Journal
Cony grad Lee headed to Final Four, by Gary Hawkins
GoTuftsJumbos.com
Special 2013-14 Women's Basketball Season Culminates this Weekend at "Final Four"
We all know about the Jumbos at his point, but what about their opponents tonight? At 31-0, the 2013-14 FDU-Florham Devils women's basketball team is not only the most successful team in the program's 34-year history but also the only remaining undefeated Division III basketball team in the country.
Led by the winningest coach in program history, Marc Mitchell, the Devils are prepared for their first-ever Final Four appearance. Mitchell, who was recently named All-Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year by D3hoops.com, also navigated the Devils to their second-consecutive Freedom Conference Championship this season.
Watch the FDU-Florham NCAA press conference here.
For more on the Devils, visit their team website at http://fdudevils.com/index.aspx?path=wbball.
Nothing more needs to be written or said. It's game time tonight at 6 pm EST as the Tufts Jumbos and the FDU-Florham Devils compete for a shot at the national championship.
In addition to the NCAA's and UWSP's live coverage of tonight's game, you can get updates at https://twitter.com/TuftsAthletics.
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