In 2000, the UNM women's basketball team rode home-court advantage all the way to the Women's NIT title game.
In 2003, the Lobos have the chance to use the power of The Pit all the way to the Women's NCAA Final Four at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.
The NCAA announced Monday that University Arena was chosen to host the first- and second-round games of the Women's NCAA Basketball Tournament on either March 22 and 24 or March 23 and 25. The Pit was already slated to host the Midwest Regional on March 29 and 31.
With that setup, UNM could host games all the way through the Midwest Regional championship game - the last step to the Final Four.
It is the first year that the NCAA is using predetermined sites for the women's tournament. In the past, the first and second rounds were held on campus sites determined by the draw of the 64 teams. The top four seeds in each of the four regions would host games.
With the new change comes a waiver from the NCAA allowing UNM to host games in the first and second round. Starting in 2004, the women's tournament will follow the same guideline as the men's tournament, which states schools cannot host first- and second-round games in their home facilities.
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Lobo head coach Don Flanagan said this situation could serve as an added incentive to the team, which returns four starters, finished 22-9 overall last season and received the school's first at-large bid to the women's tourney.
"Honestly, I think it will be motivation," he said. "I think (making the tournament) is a very high goal. At the same time, it's something we want to challenge the team with. It's not beyond the realm of possibility, but it'll take a lot of hard work."
The Pit has played host to several men's tournament games, most notably the 1983 Final Four. It also hosted the men's West Regional in 1968, 1978, 1992 and 2000. The Pit also has been host to three sets of first- and second-round games - the most recent being in March.
In addition to this year's games, The Pit will host the men's West Regional in 2005 and a women's West Regional in 2006.
UNM Athletics Director Rudy Davalos said the NCAA's choice of The Pit was more of a testament to the fans of UNM women's basketball than to the program itself.
"It says a lot for the fans," he said. "The Sports Information Department does a great job running it and the fans do a great job of buying tickets. That's why we got the regional.
"The Pit has been that way for years. If we get a good turnout, the NCAA will come back. That's what they base it on - people coming through the turnstiles."
Tickets for the Midwest Regional can be purchased now at the UNM ticket office in person, by phone at (505) 925-5626/5627 or on the Internet at www.golobos.com. Tickets for the first- and second-round games will be put on sale at a later date.
