‘Wanna carpool?’ CNU, Virginia Tech women’s basketball teams headed to Dallas for national title, Final Four
Meet you in Dallas. Or, better yet, how about sharing a ride?
The NCAA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX by holding the Division I, II and III women’s basketball national championship games at the same site, and two Virginia teams are headed to the party.
Christopher Newport (31-0) plays at noon Saturday for the Division III championship against Transylvania University (32-0) of Kentucky at the American Airlines Center.
Virginia Tech (31-4) plays LSU (32-2) in a Division I semifinal at 7 p.m. Friday at the same arena. A victory puts the Hokies, playing in the program’s first Final Four, in the national championship game at 3:30 p.m. Sunday against either South Carolina or Iowa.
After Virginia Tech beat Ohio State in an Elite Eight game late Monday, The CNU Athletics Twitter account (@CNUAthletics) tagged the Hokies’ account, writing “Hey @hokiesports — wanna carpool?”
Responded @hokiesports: “Let’s do it” with a handshake emoji.
The Hokies and Captains are unlikely to drive — Blacksburg is a nearly 16-hour drive to Dallas, CNU is 1,300 miles and more than 19 hours on the road.
All three championship games are being held at the same site for just the second in the 41-year history of NCAA women’s basketball.
“This is the ultimate celebration for women’s basketball, and to be a part of it on the 50th anniversary of Title IX is something really special that myself and all of our coaches and players will never forget during our lifetime,” CNU coach Bill Broderick said in a release posted on the NCAA’s web site.
The Division II national championship game pits Ashland (36-0) against Minnesota Duluth (32-3) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The CNU women are vying to join the Captains’ men’s team as a national champion. The CNU men beat Mount Union 74-72 on March 18 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Jami Frankenberry, 757-446-2376, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com
