ST. LOUIS – For the third time in 13 years and fourth time overall the University of Missouri-St. Louis women's basketball team is headed to the NCAA Tournament. The Tritons received an at-large berth and will be the seventh seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional starting this Friday at Grand Valley State's Fieldhouse Arena in Allendale, Mich.

UMSL (24-5) will take on second seeded Ferris State (26-6) in an opening round contest. The Bulldogs received an at-large bid out of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. FSU was the GLIAC Tournament runner-up falling to top seeded Grand Valley State 83-62 in Sunday's GLIAC Final.

The other three first round matchups features sixth seeded Malone taking on third seeded Northwood, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference champs, Maryville drew the eight seeded and will face the top seeded Lakers and the final pairing pits fifth seeded Northern Michigan against fourth seeded Wayne State (Mich.).

Semifinals of the regional tournament will be held on Saturday, March 14 while the championship is on Monday, March 16. The regional winner advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, along with seven other regional champions. The Elite Eight will be held March 24-28 at UPMC Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pa.