Wikipedia

1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

The 1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 13, 1998, and concluded on March 29, 1998, when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 27–29, 1998. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, NC State, and Arkansas qualified for the Final Four. Tennessee and Louisiana Tech won their semi-final Final Four matchups and continued on to the championship. Tennessee defeated Louisiana Tech 93–75 to take their sixth title, and complete an undefeated season (39–0).

1998 NCAA Division I
women's basketball tournament
Teams64
Finals siteKemper Arena
Kansas City, Missouri
ChampionsTennessee Volunteers (6th title, 8th title game,
11th Final Four)
Runner-upLouisiana Tech Techsters (6th title game,
9th Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachPat Summitt (6th title)
MOPChamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee)
NCAA Division I women's tournaments
«1997 1999»

For the first time in the men's or women's tournament, two teams, Tennessee and Liberty, entered the tournament unbeaten (this feat was replicated in 2014 by the women's teams from Connecticut and Notre Dame). In the Mideast Regional, the Lady Vols blew out Liberty 102–58. However, in the West Regional, the expected 1–16 blowout did not happen. In that matchup, Harvard defeated an injury-plagued #1 seed Stanford on its home court 71–67. This was the first time in the men's or women's tournament that a #16 seed had beaten a #1 seed, a feat that would not be repeated until 2018 in the men's tournament. In addition, 9th-seeded Arkansas made the final four, the highest seed ever to do so in the women's tournament. The ninth-seeded Razorbacks remain the lowest seeded team to ever reach the Final Four in the women's tournament. Only 10th-seeded Oregon in 2017, 10th-seeded Creighton in 2022 and 11th-seeded Gonzaga in 2011 have even reached an Elite Eight to be in position to break this record. In addition, Arkansas remains the only 9 seed to even reach the Elite Eight in the women's tournament. This is the last time that two number 1 seeds failed to make the sweet 16 a feat not repeated until 2023 tournament. This is the last time an ivy league team upset a Pac -12 team in the top 4 seed a feat not repeated until 2023 in the men's tournament.

Tournament records

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  • Free throws – Chasity Melvin, North Carolina State, attempted 15 free throws in the semi-final game against Louisiana Tech, setting the record for most free throw attempts in a Final Four game.
  • Winning margin – Tennessee defeated Arkansas 86–58 in the semi-final game. The winning margin of 28 points set the record for winning margin in a Final Four game.
  • Three-point field goals – Julie Krommenhoek completed eight three-point field goals in a first round game in the West region, setting the record for most three-point field goals scored in an NCAA tournament game.
  • Three-point field goal percentage – Kellie Jolly, Tennessee, hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the championship game against Louisiana Tech, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
  • Steals – Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion, recorded fourteen steals, setting the record for most steals in an NCAA tournament game, since the statistic was first recorded in 1988.
  • Free throws – Purdue made 39 free throws in a Midwest region first round game against Washington, setting the record for most free throws scored in an NCAA tournament game.
  • Field goals made – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee, scored 64 field goals in the tournament, setting the record for most field goals made in a tournament.
  • Field goals attempted – Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee, attempted 131 field goals in the tournament, setting the record for most field goals attempted in a tournament.
  • Steals – Ticha Penicheiro, Old Dominion, recorded 23 steals, setting the record for most steals in an NCAA tournament, since the statistic was first recorded in 1988. Louisville's Emily Engstler tied this record in 2022.[1]
  • Furthest advance – Harvard, as a 16 seed, advanced to the second round, representing the only time a 16 seed has advanced.[2]

Qualifying teams – automatic

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Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Thirty conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1998 NCAA tournament.[2]

Automatic bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
Season 		Conference Seed
University of Connecticut Big East 31–2 17–1 2
Drake University Missouri Valley Conference 25–4 17–1 5
Fairfield University MAAC 20–9 14–4 15
Florida International University Trans America 28–1 15–1 7
Grambling State University SWAC 23–6 14–2 16
University of Wisconsin–Green Bay Horizon League 21–8 11–3 14
Harvard University Ivy League 22–4 12–2 16
College of the Holy Cross Patriot League 21–8 10–2 14
Howard University MEAC 23–6 16–2 15
Kent State University MAC 23–6 18–0 13
Liberty University Big South Conference 28–0 12–0 16
Louisiana Tech University Sun Belt Conference 26–3 13–1 3
University of Maine America East 21–8 13–5 13
University of Memphis Conference USA 22–7 14–2 5
Middle Tennessee State University Ohio Valley Conference 18–11 11–7 15
University of Montana Big Sky Conference 24–5 15–1 14
University of New Mexico WAC 26–6 10–4 8
University of North Carolina ACC 24–6 11–5 2
Old Dominion University Colonial 27–2 16–0 1
Purdue University Big Ten 20–9 10–6 4
Santa Clara University West Coast Conference 23–7 11–3 14
St. Francis (PA) Northeast Conference 22–7 14–2 16
Stanford University Pac-10 21–5 17–1 1
Stephen F. Austin State University Southland 25–3 15–1 9
University of Tennessee SEC 33–0 14–0 1
Texas Tech University Big 12 Conference 25–4 15–1 1
University of California, Santa Barbara Big West Conference 26–5 14–1 11
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Southern Conference 21–8 12–4 15
Virginia Tech Atlantic 10 21–9 11–5 11
Youngstown State University Mid-Continent 27–2 15–1 12

Qualifying teams – at-large

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Thirty-four additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[2]

At-large bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
Season 		Conference Seed
University of Alabama Southeastern 22–9 10–4 2
University of Arizona Pacific-10 21–6 14–4 3
University of Arkansas Southeastern 18–10 7–7 9
Clemson University Atlantic Coast 24–7 12–4 6
Colorado State University Western Athletic 23–5 11–3 12
Duke University Atlantic Coast 21–7 13–3 2
University of Florida Southeastern 21–8 10–4 3
The George Washington University Atlantic 10 19–9 12–4 10
University of Georgia Southeastern 17–10 8–6 7
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Western Athletic 24–3 13–1 8
University of Illinois Big Ten 18–9 12–4 3
University of Iowa Big Ten 17–10 13–3 4
Iowa State University Big 12 24–7 12–4 4
University of Kansas Big 12 21–8 11–5 5
University of Louisville Conference USA 19–11 12–4 10
Marquette University Conference USA 22–6 13–3 10
University of Massachusetts Atlantic 10 19–10 11–5 13
University of Miami Big East 19–9 13–5 11
University of Michigan Big Ten 19–9 10–6 10
Missouri State University Missouri Valley 24–5 14–4 8
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Big 12 22–9 11–5 9
North Carolina State University Atlantic Coast 21–6 12–4 4
University of Notre Dame Big East 20–9 12–6 9
University of Oregon Pacific-10 17–9 13–5 12
Rutgers University Big East 20–9 14–4 5
Southern Methodist University Western Athletic 21–7 11–3 11
Tulane University Conference USA 21–6 12–4 12
University of California, Los Angeles Pacific-10 19–8 14–4 7
University of Utah Western Athletic 21–5 11–3 7
Vanderbilt University Southeastern 20–8 9–5 6
University of Virginia Atlantic Coast 18–9 9–7 6
University of Washington Pacific-10 18–9 9–9 13
Western Kentucky University Sun Belt 25–8 12–2 8
University of Wisconsin–Madison Big Ten 21–9 9–7 6

Bids by conference

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Thirty conferences earned an automatic bid. In nineteen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-four additional at-large teams were selected from eleven of the conferences.[2]

Bids Conference Teams
6 Southeastern Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt
5 Atlantic Coast North Carolina, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina St., Virginia
5 Big Ten Purdue, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin
5 Pacific-10 Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, Washington
5 Western Athletic New Mexico, Colorado St., Hawaii, SMU, Utah
4 Big 12 Texas Tech, Iowa St., Kansas, Nebraska
4 Big East Connecticut, Miami, Notre Dame, Rutgers
4 Conference USA Memphis, Louisville, Marquette, Tulane
3 Atlantic 10 Virginia Tech, George Washington, Massachusetts
2 Missouri Valley Drake, Missouri St.
2 Sun Belt Louisiana Tech, Western Ky.
1 America East Maine
1 Big Sky Montana
1 Big South Liberty
1 Big West UC Santa Barb.
1 Colonial Old Dominion
1 Horizon Green Bay
1 Ivy Harvard
1 Metro Atlantic Fairfield
1 Mid-American Kent St.
1 Mid-Continent Youngstown St.
1 Mid-Eastern Howard
1 Northeast St. Francis (PA)
1 Ohio Valley Middle Tenn.
1 Patriot Holy Cross
1 Southern UNC Greensboro
1 Southland Stephen F. Austin
1 Southwestern Grambling
1 Trans America FIU
1 West Coast Santa Clara

First and second rounds

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Norfolk
 
Raleigh
 
Storrs
 
Tucson
 
Chapel Hill
 
Knoxville
 
Champaign
 
Ames
 
Ruston
 
West Lafayette
 
Tuscaloosa
 
Lubbock
 
Iowa City
 
Stanford
 
Gainesville
 
Durham
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1998 NCAA NCAA first and second round venues

In 1998, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first round game. In all cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity.

The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:[3]

Region Rnd Host Venue City State
East 1&2 Old Dominion University Old Dominion University Fieldhouse Norfolk Virginia
East 1&2 North Carolina State University Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh North Carolina
East 1&2 University of Connecticut Harry A. Gampel Pavilion Storrs Connecticut
East 1&2 University of Arizona McKale Center Tucson Arizona
Mideast 1&2 University of North Carolina Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill North Carolina
Mideast 1&2 University of Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena Knoxville Tennessee
Mideast 1&2 University of Illinois Assembly Hall (Champaign) Champaign Illinois
Mideast 1&2 Iowa State University Hilton Coliseum Ames Iowa
Midwest 1&2 Louisiana Tech University Thomas Assembly Center Ruston Louisiana
Midwest 1&2 Purdue University Mackey Arena West Lafayette Indiana
Midwest 1&2 University of Alabama Coleman Coliseum Tuscaloosa Alabama
Midwest 1&2 Texas Tech University Lubbock Municipal Coliseum Lubbock Texas
West 1&2 University of Iowa Carver–Hawkeye Arena Iowa City Iowa
West 1&2 Stanford University Maples Pavilion Stanford California
West 1&2 University of Florida O'Connell Center Gainesville Florida
West 1&2 Duke University Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham North Carolina

Regionals and Final Four

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Nashville
 
Lubbock
 
Dayton
 
Oakland
 
Kansas City
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1998 NCAA regionals and Final Four

The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 20 to March 23 at these sites:

Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 27 and March 29 in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Kemper Arena

Bids by state

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The sixty-four teams came from thirty-four states, plus Washington, D.C. Four states, California, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina each had the most teams with four bids. Sixteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[2]

 
NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 1998
Bids State Teams
4 California Santa Clara, Stanford, UC Santa Barb., UCLA
4 North Carolina North Carolina, UNC Greensboro, Duke, North Carolina St.
4 Tennessee Memphis, Middle Tenn., Tennessee, Vanderbilt
4 Virginia Liberty, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech, Virginia
3 Florida FIU, Florida, Miami
3 Iowa Drake, Iowa, Iowa St.
3 Louisiana Grambling, Louisiana Tech, Tulane
3 Massachusetts Harvard, Holy Cross, Massachusetts
3 Texas Stephen F. Austin, Texas Tech, SMU
3 Wisconsin Green Bay, Marquette, Wisconsin
2 Connecticut Connecticut, Fairfield
2 District of Columbia Howard, George Washington
2 Indiana Purdue, Notre Dame
2 Kentucky Louisville, Western Ky.
2 Ohio Kent St., Youngstown St.
1 Alabama Alabama
1 Arizona Arizona
1 Arkansas Arkansas
1 Colorado Colorado St.
1 Georgia Georgia
1 Hawaii Hawaii
1 Illinois Illinois
1 Kansas Kansas
1 Maine Maine
1 Michigan Michigan
1 Missouri Missouri St.
1 Montana Montana
1 Nebraska Nebraska
1 New Jersey Rutgers
1 New Mexico New Mexico
1 Pennsylvania St. Francis
1 Oregon Oregon
1 South Carolina Clemson
1 Utah Utah
1 Washington Washington

Brackets

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Data source[2]

East Region - Dayton, OH

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First round
March 13 and 14 		Second round
March 15 and 16 		Regional semifinals
March 21 		Regional finals
March 23
            
1 at Old Dominion 92
16 Saint Francis (PA) 39
1 Old Dominion 75
Norfolk, VA
9 Nebraska 60
8 New Mexico 59
9 Nebraska 76
1 Old Dominion 54
4 North Carolina State 55
5 Memphis 80
12 Youngstown State 91
12 Youngstown State 61
Raleigh, NC
4 North Carolina State 88
4 at North Carolina State 89
13 Maine 64
4 North Carolina State 60
2 Connecticut 52
6 Virginia 77
11 SMU 68
6 Virginia 77
Tucson, AZ
3 Arizona 94
3 at Arizona 75
14 Santa Clara 63
3 Arizona 57
2 Connecticut 74
7 Georgia 72
10 George Washington 74
10 George Washington 67
Storrs, CT
2 Connecticut 75
2 at Connecticut 93
15 Fairfield 52

Mideast Region - Nashville, TN

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First round
March 13 and 14 		Second round
March 15 and 16 		Regional semifinals
March 21 		Regional finals
March 23
            
1 at Tennessee 102
16 Liberty 58
1 Tennessee 82
Knoxville, TN
8 Western Kentucky 62
8 Western Kentucky 88
9 Stephen F. Austin 76
1 Tennessee 92
5 Rutgers 60
5 Rutgers 79
12 Oregon 76
5 Rutgers 62
Ames, IA
4 Iowa State 61
4 at Iowa State 79
13 Kent State 76
1 Tennessee 76
2 North Carolina 70
6 Vanderbilt 71
11 UC Santa Barbara 76
11 UC Santa Barbara 65
Champaign, IL
3 Illinois 69
3 at Illinois 82
14 Green Bay 58
3 Illinois 74
2 North Carolina 80
7 Florida International 59
10 Marquette 45
7 Florida International 72
Chapel Hill, NC
2 North Carolina 85
2 at North Carolina 91
15 Howard 71

Midwest Region - Lubbock, TX

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First round
March 12 and 13 		Second round
March 14 and 15 		Regional semifinals
March 20 		Regional finals
March 22
            
1 at Texas Tech 87
16 Grambling State 75
1 Texas Tech 59
Lubbock, TX
9 Notre Dame 74
8 SW Missouri State 64
9 Notre Dame 78
9 Notre Dame 65
4 Purdue 70
5 Drake 75
12 Colorado State 81
12 Colorado State 63
West Lafayette, IN
4 Purdue 77
4 at Purdue 88
13 Washington 71
4 Purdue 65
3 Louisiana Tech 72
6 Clemson 60
11 Miami (FL) 49
6 Clemson 52
Ruston, LA
3 Louisiana Tech 74
3 at Louisiana Tech 86
14 Holy Cross 58
3 Louisiana Tech 71
2 Alabama 57
7 UCLA 65
10 Michigan 58
7 UCLA 74
Tuscaloosa, AL
2 Alabama 75
2 at Alabama 94
15 UNC-Greensboro 46

West Region - Oakland, CA

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First round
March 13 and 14 		Second round
March 15 and 16 		Regional semifinals
March 21 		Regional finals
March 23
            
1 at Stanford 67
16 Harvard 71
16 Harvard 64
Stanford, CA
9 Arkansas 82
8 Hawaii 70
9 Arkansas 76
9 Arkansas 79
5 Kansas 63
5 Kansas 72
12 Tulane 68
5 Kansas 62
Iowa City, IA
4 Iowa 58
4 at Iowa 77
13 Massachusetts 59
9 Arkansas 77
2 Duke 72
6 Wisconsin 64
11 Virginia Tech 75
11 Virginia Tech 57
Gainesville, FL
3 Florida 89
3 at Florida 85
14 Montana 64
3 Florida 58
2 Duke 71
7 Utah 61
10 Louisville 69
10 Louisville 53
Durham, NC
2 Duke 69
2 at Duke 92
15 Middle Tennessee 67
  • --Despite the fact that Stanford did not advance to the second round, the Arkansas-Harvard second round game was still played on Stanford’s home court.

Final Four – Kansas City, Missouri

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National semifinals
March 27 		National championship
March 29
      
E4 NC State 65
MW3 Louisiana Tech 84
MW3 Louisiana Tech 75
ME1 Tennessee 93
ME1 Tennessee 86
W9 Arkansas 58

E-East; ME-Mideast; MW-Midwest; W-West.

Record by conference

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Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[2]

Conference # of Bids Record Win % Round
of 32 		Sweet
Sixteen 		Elite
Eight 		Final
Four 		Championship
Game
Southeastern 6 14–5 .737 4 4 2 2 1
Atlantic Coast 5 12–5 .706 5 3 3 1 –
Big Ten 5 6–5 .545 3 2 1 – –
Pacific-10 5 3–5 .375 2 1 – – –
Western Athletic 5 1–5 .167 1 – – – –
Big East 4 7–4 .636 3 3 1 – –
Big 12 4 5–4 .556 4 1 – – –
Conference USA 4 1–4 .200 1 – – – –
Atlantic 10 3 2–3 .400 2 – – – –
Sun Belt 2 6–2 .750 2 1 1 1 1
Missouri Valley 2 0–2 – – – – – –
Colonial 1 2–1 .667 1 1 – – –
Big West 1 1–1 .500 1 – – – –
Ivy 1 1–1 .500 1 – – – –
Mid-Continent 1 1–1 .500 1 – – – –
Trans America 1 1–1 .500 1 – – – –

Fourteen conferences went 0–1: America East, Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Horizon League, MAAC, MAC, MEAC, Northeast Conference, Ohio Valley Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, Southland, SWAC, and West Coast Conference[2]

All-Tournament team

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Game officials

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  • Art Bomengen (semifinal)
  • Melissa Barlow (semifinal)
  • Karen Wilhite (semifinal)
  • Dennis Mayer (semifinal)
  • Scott Yarbrough (semifinal)
  • Teresa Dahlem (semifinal)
  • Sally Bell (final)
  • Bob Trammell (final)
  • Wesley Dean (final) [2]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Nixon, Rick. "2023 Women's Final Four Championship Record Book" (PDF). NCAA. p. 85. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nixon, Rick. "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  3. ^ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
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