Quarterfinals begin Tuesday, February 22
Twinsburg, Ohio -- Baldwin-Wallace and Wilmington tied for the 2004-05 OAC regular-season title, but the Quakers of Wilmington earned the top-seed due to the tie-break procedure. This is the second straight year that two teams shared the regular-season title and just the third time overall. A year ago, Baldwin-Wallace and Capital tied for the regular-season crown and in the 1986-87 season, Capital and Ohio Northern tied for the top spot.
Wilmington is the top-seed for the third time in four years and will look to defend its OAC Tournament title from a year ago. In 2004, Wilmington won the Tournament as the third-seed and went on to capture the school's first-ever NCAA Championship. The Quakers will face #8 seed Heidelberg in the OAC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday at the Fred Raizk Arena. Game-time is set for 7:30 p.m. Wilmington defeated the 'Berg twice during the regular season. Heidelberg and the Quakers have met once before in OAC Tournament play, in 2001, when the Student Princes defeated Wilmington, 68-55.
Baldwin-Wallace is the #2 seed and will face #7 seed Ohio Northern at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening. B-W tied Wilmington for its fifth OAC regular-season championship in seven years. B-W took two wins from the Polar Bears during this regular season. In OAC Tournament action, the Yellow Jackets and Polar Bears have met twice, B-W won the game in 2001, while ONU took home the win in 1987.
Otterbein, the #3 seed will face #6 seed John Carroll for the second straight year. The Cardinals defeated the Blue Streaks, 79-63, a year ago in Tournament play. JCU captured an 82-60 win against Otterbein in the 1991 OAC Tournament. During the regular-season, Otterbein defeated JCU in both regular season games this season, 63-61 and 74-62. JCU will travel to Westerville to face the Cardinals on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Rike Center.
Capital is the #4 seed and will face #5 seed Marietta on Tuesday at the Capital Center. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. The Crusaders are looking to advance to the semifinals for the second straight year, while the Pioneers are looking to advance past the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990. Capital defeated Marietta twice during the regular season.
The winners of the four quarterfinal games will advance to the semifinals which will be played at the remaining highest two seeds on Thursday, February 24. Both semifinal match-ups will begin at 7:30 p.m. The championship game will take place on Saturday, February 26.
OAC Tournament
Tuesday, February 22
OAC Quarterfinals at Higher Seeds
#8 Heidelberg at #1 Wilmington, 7:30
#7 Ohio Northern at #2 Baldwin-Wallace, 7:30
#6 John Carroll at #3 Otterbein, 7:30
#5 Marietta at #4 Capital, 7:30
Thursday, February 24
OAC Semifinals at Higher Seeds
#6/#3 winner vs. #7/#2 winner, 7:30
#5/#4 winner vs. #8/#1 winner, 7:30
Saturday, February 26
OAC Championship Game at Highest Remaining Seed
Championship game at 3:00
Julie Work
Information Director
Ohio Athletic Conference
Phone: 330-963-0444
Fax: 330-963-0459
www.oac.org
275 Eastland Rd.