Tuesday, March 12, 2013

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington will bring a No. 5 national ranking into the NCAA Division II West Regional tournament which begins Saturday at Sam Carver Gymnasium.

The top-seeded Vikings will open the tournament  against eighth-seed Academy of Art at 7:30 p.m.

Earlier in the day at 2:30 p.m. second-seeded Simon Fraser will make its NCAA post-season debut against seventh-seed Northwest Nazarene.  The Clan is ranked 11th in this week's national poll which was released Tuesday.

The Crusaders are making their fifth NCAA appearnance, but their first since 2009.  They are not ranked in the national poll.

Also ranked in this week's poll is Chico State.  The Wildcats, the fourth seed, are ranked 16th nationally in the latest USA Today Sports poll.