Dayton Flyers earn No. 9 seed in NCAA women's tournament

The first segment of the NCAA women’s tournament selection show Monday ended without the Dayton Flyers hearing their name called. They started to get nervous, even if everything they had heard for the last week pointed to them earning a berth.

Finally, the news came. Dayton (23-6) showed up on the screen as a No. 9 seed playing No. 8 seed Marquette (23-9) in Louisville, Ky., at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The Flyers jumped from their seats at a viewing party at UD Arena and celebrated. Their season is alive.

The @DaytonWBB are in the big dance. They will play Marquette in Louisville. pic.twitter.com/grVL9g5Qkr
— David Jablonski (@DavidPJablonski) March 12, 2018

“It was more exciting this year than last year, just the suspense of it and not knowing,” coach Shauna Green said. “We felt good about it, but seeing your name pop up, it was a great feeling.”

Dayton will play at the KFC Yum! Center for the second straight season. Last year, it was a No. 12 seed and lost 66-57 to No. 5 seed Tennessee in the first round in Louisville.

Dayton or Marquette will play No. 1 seed Louisville or No. 16 seed Boise State in the second round Sunday.

The @DaytonWBB will take on Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Louisville. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:30. #OneWay pic.twitter.com/BftYR8ieeo
— Dayton Flyers (@DaytonFlyers) March 12, 2018