1997 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

The 1997 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 14, 1997, and concluded on March 30, 1997, when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati on March 28–30, 1997. Tennessee, Old Dominion, Stanford, and Notre Dame qualified for the Final Four. Tennessee and Old Dominion won their semi-final Final Four matchups and continued on to the championship. Tennessee defeated Old Dominion 68-59 for their fifth national title.

1997 NCAA Division I
women's basketball tournament
Teams64
Finals siteRiverfront Coliseum
Cincinnati
ChampionsTennessee Volunteers (5th title, 7th title game,
10th Final Four)
Runner-upOld Dominion Monarchs (2nd title game,
3rd Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachPat Summitt (5th title)
MOPChamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee)
NCAA Division I women's tournaments
«1996 1998»

Tournament records

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  • Field goal percentage – Kristin Folkl, Stanford, hit all eight field goal attempts in the semi-final game against Old Dominion, setting the record for field goal percentage in a Final Four game.
  • Assists – Kellie Jolly, Tennessee, recorded eleven assists in the championship game against Old Dominion, setting the record for most assists in a Final Four game.
  • Field goal percentage – Tennessee hit 29 of 49 field goals attempts(59.2%) in the championship game against Old Dominion, setting the record for the field goal percentage in a Final Four game.[1]

Qualifying teams – automatic

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Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1997 NCAA Tournament. Thirty conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament.[1]

Automatic Bids
    Record  
Qualifying School Conference Regular
Season
Conference Seed
Auburn University SEC 21–9 5–7 7
University of Colorado at Boulder Big 12 21–8 12–4 2
University of Connecticut Big East 30–0 18–0 1
University of Detroit Mercy Midwestern Collegiate 23–6 14–2 14
Drake University Missouri Valley Conference 23–7 14–4 13
Eastern Kentucky University Ohio Valley Conference 24–5 16–2 15
Florida International University Trans America 21–8 12–4 14
Grambling State University SWAC 24–5 14–0 14
Harvard University Ivy League 20–6 14–0 16
Howard University MEAC 24–5 18–0 16
University of Iowa Big Ten 17–11 9–7 9
Lehigh University Patriot League 15–14 7–5 16
Liberty University Big South Conference 22–7 9–5 16
Louisiana Tech University Sun Belt Conference 29–3 12–2 2
University of Maine America East 22–7 17–1 13
Marshall University Southern Conference 18–11 9–5 15
University of Montana Big Sky Conference 25–3 16–0 9
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ACC 27–2 15–1 1
Old Dominion University Colonial 29–1 16–0 1
San Diego State University WAC 23–6 15–1 11
University of San Francisco West Coast Conference 25–5 11–3 11
St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 19–10 16–2 15
Saint Joseph's University Atlantic 10 25–4 15–1 7
Saint Peter's College MAAC 25–3 14–0 15
Stanford University Pac-10 30–1 18–0 1
Texas State University Southland 17–11 11–5 14
University of Toledo MAC 27–3 16–2 10
Troy University Mid-Continent 23–6 13–3 13
Tulane University Conference USA 26–4 12–2 4
University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 24–5 14–1 13

Qualifying teams – at-large

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Thirty-four additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[1]

At-large Bids
    Record  
Qualifying School Conference Regular
Season
Conference Seed
University of Alabama Southeastern 23–6 10–2 2
University of Arizona Pacific-10 22–7 12–6 7
Clemson University Atlantic Coast 19–10 8–8 5
DePaul University Conference USA 20–8 10–4 12
Duke University Atlantic Coast 18–10 9–7 5
University of Florida Southeastern 21–8 9–3 3
The George Washington University Atlantic 10 25–5 16–0 5
University of Georgia Southeastern 22–5 11–1 2
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Big Ten 22–7 12–4 4
Iowa State University Big 12 17–11 9–7 12
University of Kansas Big 12 24–5 14–2 3
Kansas State University Big 12 19–11 9–7 10
University of Louisville Conference USA 20–8 12–2 10
Louisiana State University Southeastern 23–4 9–3 4
Marquette University Conference USA 20–9 10–4 12
University of Maryland, College Park Atlantic Coast 18–9 9–7 9
University of Memphis Conference USA 22–6 12–2 11
Michigan State University Big Ten 21–7 12–4 8
North Carolina State University Atlantic Coast 19–11 9–7 8
Northwestern University Big Ten 17–10 9–7 12
University of Notre Dame Big East 27–6 17–1 6
University of Oregon Pacific-10 21–6 14–4 6
University of Portland West Coast 27–2 14–0 9
Purdue University Big Ten 16–10 12–4 8
University of Southern California Pacific-10 18–9 13–5 6
Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 27–4 16–0 7
University of Tennessee Southeastern 23–10 8–4 3
University of Texas at Austin Big 12 21–7 12–4 3
Texas Tech University Big 12 19–8 11–5 8
University of Utah Western Athletic 24–5 15–1 5
Vanderbilt University Southeastern 18–10 6–6 6
University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 21–7 12–4 4
University of Washington Pacific-10 17–11 12–6 11
Western Kentucky University Sun Belt 22–8 12–2 10

Bids by conference

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Thirty conferences earned an automatic bid. In eighteen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-four additional at-large teams were selected from twelve of the conferences.[1]

Bids Conference Teams
7 Southeastern Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
6 Atlantic Coast North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina St., Virginia
6 Big 12 Colorado, Iowa St., Kansas, Kansas St., Texas, Texas Tech
5 Big Ten Iowa, Illinois, Michigan St., Northwestern, Purdue
5 Conference USA Tulane, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis
5 Pacific-10 Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, Southern California, Washington
2 Atlantic 10 St. Joseph's, George Washington
2 Big East Connecticut, Notre Dame
2 Southland Texas St., Stephen F. Austin
2 Sun Belt Louisiana Tech, Western Kentucky
2 West Coast San Francisco, Portland
2 Western Athletic San Diego St., Utah
1 America East Maine
1 Big Sky Montana
1 Big South Liberty
1 Big West UC Santa Barb.
1 Colonial Old Dominion
1 Ivy Harvard
1 Metro Atlantic St. Peter's
1 Mid-American Toledo
1 Mid-Continent Troy
1 Mid-Eastern Howard
1 Midwestern Detroit
1 Missouri Valley Drake
1 Northeast St. Francis (PA)
1 Ohio Valley Eastern Kentucky
1 Patriot Lehigh
1 Southern Marshall
1 Southwestern Grambling State
1 Trans America FIU

First and second rounds

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Chapel Hill
 
Austin
 
Tuscaloosa
 
Washington
 
Baton Rouge
 
Norfolk
 
Ruston
 
Gainesville
 
Knoxville
 
Boulder
 
Storrs
 
Champaign
 
Athens
 
Charlottesville
 
Stanford
 
Lawrence
1997 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues

In 1997, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In most cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. The exception:[2]

  • Fourth seeded Tulane was unable to host due to a "facility/hotel availability conflict",[3] so fifth seeded George Washington hosted three first and second-round games

Michigan State was involved in two overtime games, winning in  the first round against Portland then losing in overtime in the second round against North Carolina. Old Dominion was also involved in two overtime games, winning in the second round against Purdue, then winning in the national semifinal game against Stanford.

The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:

Region Rnd Host Venue City State
East 1&2 University of North Carolina Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill North Carolina
East 1&2 University of Texas Frank Erwin Center Austin Texas
East 1&2 University of Alabama Coleman Coliseum Tuscaloosa Alabama
East 1&2 George Washington University Charles E. Smith Athletic Center Washington District of Columbia
Mideast 1&2 Louisiana State University LSU Assembly Center (Pete Maravich Assembly Center) Baton Rouge Louisiana
Mideast 1&2 Old Dominion University Old Dominion University Fieldhouse Norfolk Virginia
Mideast 1&2 Louisiana Tech University Thomas Assembly Center Ruston Louisiana
Mideast 1&2 University of Florida O'Connell Center Gainesville Florida
Midwest 1&2 University of Tennessee Thompson–Boling Arena Knoxville Tennessee
Midwest 1&2 University of Colorado CU Events Center (Coors Events Center) Boulder Colorado
Midwest 1&2 University of Connecticut Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs Connecticut
Midwest 1&2 University of Illinois Assembly Hall (Champaign) Champaign Illinois
West 1&2 University of Georgia Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum) Athens Georgia
West 1&2 University of Virginia University Hall (University of Virginia) Charlottesville Virginia
West 1&2 Stanford University Maples Pavilion Stanford California
West 1&2 University of Kansas Allen Field House Lawrence Kansas

Regionals and Final Four

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Columbia
 
West Lafayette
 
Iowa City
 
Missoula
 
Cincinnati
1997 NCAA regionals and Final Four

The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 22 to March 24 at these sites:

Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 28 and March 30 in Cincinnati at the Riverfront Coliseum

Bids by state

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The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. California had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[1]

 
NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 1997
Bids State Teams
5 California San Diego St., San Francisco, Stanford, UC Santa Barb., Southern California
4 Louisiana Grambling, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, LSU
4 Texas Texas St., Stephen F. Austin, Texas, Texas Tech
3 Alabama Auburn, Troy, Alabama
3 Illinois DePaul, Illinois, Northwestern
3 Iowa Drake, Iowa, Iowa St.
3 Kentucky Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Western Kentuck.
3 North Carolina North Carolina, Duke, North Carolina St.
3 Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
3 Virginia Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia
2 District of Columbia Howard, George Washington
2 Florida FIU, Florida
2 Indiana Notre Dame, Purdue
2 Kansas Kansas, Kansas St.
2 Michigan Detroit, Michigan St.
2 Oregon Oregon, Portland
3 Pennsylvania Lehigh, St. Joseph's, St Francis
1 Arizona Arizona
1 Colorado Colorado
1 Connecticut Connecticut
1 Georgia Georgia
1 Maine Maine
1 Maryland Maryland
1 Massachusetts Harvard
1 Montana Montana
1 New Jersey St. Peter's
1 Ohio Toledo
1 South Carolina Clemson
1 Utah Utah
1 Washington Washington
1 West Virginia Marshall
1 Wisconsin Marquette

Brackets

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Data source[4]

* – Denotes overtime period[5]

East Region

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First round
March 14 and 15

Higher Seed's Home Court

Second round
March 16 and 17

Higher Seed's Home Court

Regional semifinals
March 22

Carolina Coliseum

Columbia, South Carolina

Regional finals
March 24

Carolina Coliseum

Columbia, South Carolina

            
1 at North Carolina 78
16 Harvard 53
1 North Carolina 81OT
8 Michigan State 71
8 Michigan State 75OT
9 Portland 70
1 North Carolina 46
5 George Washington 55
5 at George Washington 61
12 Northwestern 46
5 George Washington† 81
4 Tulane 67
4 Tulane 72
13 UCSB 69
5 George Washington 52
6 Notre Dame 62
6 Notre Dame 93
11 Memphis 62
6 Notre Dame 86
3 Texas 83
3 at Texas 66
14 SW Texas State 38
6 Notre Dame 87
2 Alabama 71
7 Saint Joseph's 70
10 Kansas State 52
7 Saint Joseph's 52
2 Alabama 61
2 at Alabama 94
15 St. Francis (PA) 50

† George Washington was a host as a #5 seed, as #4 seed Tulane's facility was considered inadequate by the NCAA.

Mideast Region

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First round
March 14 and 15

Higher Seed's Home Court

Second round
March 16 and 17

Higher Seed's Home Court

Regional semifinals
March 22

Mackey Arena

West Lafayette, Indiana

Regional finals
March 24

Mackey Arena

West lafayette, Indiana

            
1 at Old Dominion 102
16 Liberty 52
1 Old Dominion 69OT
8 Purdue 65
8 Purdue 74
9 Maryland 48
1 Old Dominion 62
4 LSU 49
5 Clemson 66
12 Marquette 70
12 Marquette 58
4 LSU 71
4 at LSU 88
13 Maine 79
1 Old Dominion 53
3 Florida 51
6 USC 68
11 San Francisco 55
6 USC 78
3 Florida 92
3 at Florida 92
14 Florida International 68
3 Florida 71
2 Louisiana Tech 57
7 Auburn 68
10 Louisville 65
7 Auburn 48
2 Louisiana Tech 74
2 at Louisiana Tech 94
15 Saint Peter's 50

Midwest Region

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First round
March 14 and 15

Higher Seed's Home Court

Second round
March 16 and 17

Higher Seed's Home Court

Regional semifinals
March 22

Carver–Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, Iowa

Regional finals
March 24

Carver–Hawkeye Arena

Iowa City, Iowa

            
1 at Connecticut 103
16 Lehigh 35
1 Connecticut 72
9 Iowa 53
8 North Carolina State 50
9 Iowa 56
1 Connecticut 78
4 Illinois 73
5 Duke 70
12 DePaul 56
5 Duke 67
4 Illinois 85
4 at Illinois 79
13 Drake 62
1 Connecticut 81
3 Tennessee 91
6 Oregon 80
11 San Diego State 68
6 Oregon 59
3 Tennessee 76
3 at Tennessee 91
14 Grambling State 54
3 Tennessee 75
2 Colorado 67
7 Stephen F. Austin 79
10 Toledo 66
7 Stephen F. Austin 57
2 Colorado 66
2 at Colorado 69
15 Marshall 49

West Region

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First round
March 14 and 15

Higher Seed's Home Court

Second round
March 16 and 17

Higher Seed's Home Court

Regional semifinals
March 22

Dahlberg Arena

Missoula, Montana

Regional finals
March 24

Dahlberg Arena

Missoula, Montana

            
1 at Stanford 111
16 Howard 59
1 Stanford 67
8 Texas Tech 45
8 Texas Tech 47
9 Montana 45
1 Stanford 91
4 Virginia 69
5 Utah 66
12 Iowa State 57
5 Utah 46
4 Virginia 65
4 at Virginia 96
13 Troy State 74
1 Stanford 82
2 Georgia 47
6 Vanderbilt 74
11 Washington 62
6 Vanderbilt 51
3 Kansas 44
3 at Kansas 81
14 Detroit 67
6 Vanderbilt 52
2 Georgia 66
7 Arizona 76
10 Western Kentucky 54
7 Arizona 74
2 Georgia 80
2 at Georgia 91
15 Eastern Kentucky 55

Final Four

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National semifinals
March 28

Riverfront Coliseum

Cincinnati

National championship
March 30

Riverfront Coliseum

Cincinnati

      
E6 Notre Dame 66
MW3 Tennessee 80
MW3 Tennessee 68
ME1 Old Dominion 59
ME1 Old Dominion 83OT
W1 Stanford 82

E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West.

Record by conference

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Thirteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[1]

Conference # of Bids Record Win % Round
of 32
Sweet
Sixteen
Elite
Eight
Final
Four
Championship
Game
Southeastern 7 19–6 .760 7 6 3 1 1
Atlantic Coast 6 5–6 .455 3 2
Big 12 6 5–6 .455 4 1
Pacific-10 5 7–5 .583 4 1 1 1
Big Ten 5 5–5 .500 4 1
Conference USA 5 2–5 .286 2
Big East 2 7–2 .778 2 2 2 1
Atlantic 10 2 4–2 .667 2 1 1
Sun Belt 2 2–2 .500 1 1
Southland 2 1–2 .333 1
Western Athletic 2 1–2 .333 1
West Coast 2 0–2
Colonial 1 5–1 .833 1 1 1 1 1

Seventeen conferences went 0-1: America East, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Ivy League, MAAC, MAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Midwestern Collegiate, Missouri Valley Conference, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, SWAC, and Trans America[1]

All-Tournament team

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Game officials

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  • Sally Bell (semifinal)
  • Carla Fujimoto (semifinal)
  • Ray Bomeli (semifinal)
  • John Morningstar (semifinal)
  • Scott Yarbrough (semifinal)
  • Judy Schneider (semifinal)
  • Yvette McKinney (final)
  • Dee Kantner (final)
  • Violet Palmer (final) [1]

Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer were hired into the NBA for its 1997-98 season, becoming the first female officials in any major North American professional sports league. Following her dismissal from the NBA in 2001, Kantner returned to women's college basketball and has officiated numerous Final Fours, while Palmer remained in the NBA through the 2015-16 season.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Nixon, Rick. "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  2. ^ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  3. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (November 20, 2006). "Predetermined sites haven't boosted attendance". ESPN. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book". NCAA. February 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  5. ^ "THE TOURNAMENT" (PDF). NCAA. pp. 86–87. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2022.