Ashland, Ohio – For the second straight year the UW-Parkside women's basketball team is the last Great Lakes Valley Conference team left standing and will play for the Midwest Regional Championship on Monday night in the Kates Gymnasium on the campus of Ashland University. It's the program's second consecutive berth in a regional final and they will once again face a top-five opponent on their home court to try to advance to the NCAA Division I “Elite Eight.” Monday night's game will start at 6:00 p.m.
 
The Rangers will take on top-seeded, and second-ranked, Ashland in front of what is expected to be a near-capacity crowd for an Eagle team that has won 30 straight games after losing its season opener (30-1).
 
But this Parkside team has been molded through toughness, a trait it has displayed throughout the tournament coming back from two significant second half deficits to advance to the Round of 16. The Rangers trailed by nine points with just 13:30 left on Saturday night before storming back with a 20-1 run to shock second-seed, Ferris State. The team established a school-record by winning 80% of its road games this season and will need to call on that experience in Monday night's final.
 
Ashland features the Midwest Region play of the year in Division I transfer, Kari Daugherty. She had 28 points, 22 rebounds, and five assists to help the Eagles squeak past Quincy on Saturday night in the regional semifinal, 71-69. For the year she averages 20.9 points and a nation's best 13.9 rebounds.
 
The Rangers have exhibited a balanced attack in the tournament as three players are averaging at least 15 points per game. Jenna Endisch (17.5), Jadee Rooney (17.5), and Brittany Beyer (15.0) have helped carry the scoring load but it was the team's defense that pushed them into the next round.
 
Kaitlyn Bettiga and Jaleesa Trussell harassed Ferris State's All-Region point guard, Sarah DeShone leading to the Rangers forcing 24 turnovers and holding the Bulldogs to just 13 field goal attempts in the second half. Parkside will need that defensive effort against the Eagles if they hope to pull off the upset and advance to San Antonio for the Elite Eight which begins on March 20.
 
Monday night's game can be heard locally in Kenosha/Racine on NewsTalk 1400 WRJN (AM) or online at www.gatewaysportsweb.org. Brad Fischer will have the call with the pregame show beginning at 5:45 p.m. and the tip-off scheduled for 6:00. You can also follow the live stats of the game through the link available in the calendar at parksiderangers.com. Tune in for what promises to be an exciting and emotional Midwest Regional Final.