GREENWOOD - The Lander women's basketball team earned an at-large berth and will return to the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament for the first time since 2012 it was announced by the NCAA late Sunday. (Tournament Website)

Lander, 23-6 overall, is the fourth seed and will open Friday in a first-round game at 7:30 p.m. against fifth-seeded Wingate (21-9) at host Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.

"We are somewhat fortunate because we played them three months ago," said Lander head coach Kevin Pederson. "(Wingate) is a strong team and they are used to winning. We are different team than when we played them and I am sure they are, too." 

The Lady Bearcats, who are making their sixth NCAA tournament appearance in the last eight years, defeated Wingate, 69-63, on Dec. 3.

The Lander-Wingate winner will face the winner of top-seeded Limestone (30-1) and eighth-seeded Catawba (18-11) on Saturday.

In the other half of the bracket, second-seeded Columbus State (30-1) will play No. 7 Carson-Newman (19-10), and No. 3 Anderson (25-4) will go against No. 6 Newberry (21-10).

The regional championship game will be played Monday.

The Southeast Region champion will join seven other region winners in the Elite Eight, to be played March 24-27 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Southeast Region Tournament Schedule

Friday, March 13
12:00 - Newberry vs. Anderson (Game 1)
2:30 - Carson-Newman vs. Columbus State (Game 2)
5:00 - Catawba vs. Limestone (Game 3)
7:30 - Wingate vs. Lander (Game 4)

Saturday, March 14
5:00 - Semifinal (winners Game 1 and Game 2)
7:30 - Semifinal (winners Game 3 and Game 4)

Monday, March 16
7:00 - Championship Game