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1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament

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1983 NCAA Division I
women's basketball tournament
Teams36
Finals siteNorfolk Scope
Norfolk, Virginia
ChampionsUSC (1st title, 1st title game,
1st Final Four)
Runner-upLouisiana Tech (2nd title game,
2nd Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachLinda Sharp (1st title)
MOPCheryl Miller (USC)
NCAA Division I women's tournaments
«1982 1984»

The 1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 18 and concluded on April 3 with USC winning the title. The tournament consisted of 36 teams. The Final Four was held in Norfolk, Virginia and consisted of USC, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Georgia.[1] USC's Cheryl Miller was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.[2]

Notable events

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Neither semifinal game in the final four turned out to be close. Defending national champion Louisiana Tech beat long time powerhouse Old Dominion by sixteen points, handing them their 30th consecutive victory. In the other semifinal, Southern California had an easier time, beating Georgia by 24 points. This set up the championship game between the only two top seeds to advance to the Final Four.

The two teams had met twice before in regular season, both coming away with a win, but in both cases, on the opponents home court. USC beat the Lady Techsters in Louisiana, 64–58, giving the La Tech team their only loss for the year. La Tech turned around and beat USC in Los Angeles by two points in January, one of only two losses suffered by the USC team all season.

The game came down to the final seconds. USC had a two-point lead with six seconds left in the game, and freshman star Cheryl Miller at the line for a one-and-one attempt. In the era before the three point shot, simply making the foul shot would virtually guarantee the win. But Miller missed the free throw, and the Techsters grabbed the rebound. The Lady Techsters ran up the court, where Kim Mulkey took the final shot, but it failed to go in, and USC won their first national championship.[3]

Records

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In the National championship game, Jennifer White hit eight of nine free throw attempts to set a championship game record for free throw percentage.[4]

In the same game, Cheryl Miller attempted 14 free throws, a national championship record.

The NCAA did not officially start keeping track of blocked shots in women's basketball until 1998 (it had begun doing so in the men's game in 1986). However, Anne Donovan of Old Dominion had twelve blocked shot in a regional game, two more than the official record of ten.[5]

Qualifying teams – automatic

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Thirty-six teams were selected to participate in the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Fourteen conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1983 NCAA tournament. (Not all conference records are available for 1983) [6]

Automatic bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
Season
Conference Seed
Central Michigan MAC 20–8 -– 6
Georgia SEC 24–6 4–4 2
Illinois State Gateway[n 1] 20–9 -– 6
Indiana Big Ten 18–10 -– 6
Louisville Metro[n 2] 20–9 -– 7
Maryland ACC 25–4 10–3 3
Missouri Big Eight 23–5 -– 4
Old Dominion Sun Belt 26–5 -– 2
Oregon State Northern Pacific 23–5 -– 3
Penn State Atlantic 10 24–6 -– 5
USC Western Collegiate 25–2 -– 1
St. John's Big East 23–5 -– 7
Texas Southwest 28–2 -– 2
Utah High Country 22–6 -– 5
  1. ^ In the NCAA record books, Illinois State is officially recognized as having been a member of both the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference (Gateway) and the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in 1983, although the latter did not sponsor women's sports until the 1992–93 school year. The 1982–83 school year was the first for the Gateway, founded as a women's-only parallel to the MVC. In 1985, the Gateway added football as its only men's sport. After the women's side of the Gateway merged into the MVC in 1992, the football side remained in operation, and is now the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
  2. ^ The NCAA recognized a Metro Conference champion, although that league would not sponsor women's sports until the 1983–84 school year.

Qualifying teams – at-large

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Twenty-two additional teams were selected to complete the thirty-six invitations.[6] (Not all conference records are available for 1983) OR - Opening Round

At-large bids
    Record  
Qualifying school Conference Regular
Season
Conference Seed
Arizona State Western Collegiate 22–6 9–5 4
Auburn SEC 23–7 6–2 5
Cheyney State Independent 26–2 -–- 1
Dartmouth Ivy League 18–7 11–1 OR
Florida State Metro 24–5 -– 5
Jackson State SWAC 21–7 -– OR
Kansas State Big Eight 24–5 -– 3
Kentucky SEC 23–4 6–2 3
La Salle East Coast 16–12 -– OR
Long Beach State Independent 22–6 -– 2
Louisiana Tech Independent 27–1 -–- 1
Middle Tennessee State Ohio Valley 25–4 10–0 OR
Mississippi SEC 25–5 6–2 4
Monmouth Cosmopolitan 14–14 -– OR
Montana Mountain West Athletic 26–3 -– OR
North Carolina ACC 22–7 10–3 7
North Carolina State ACC 22–7 12–1 4
Northeast Louisiana Southland 21–5 -– OR
South Carolina State MEAC 16–7 -– OR
Stephen F. Austin Southland 18–6 -– 7
Tennessee SEC 23–7 7–1 1
UCLA Western Collegiate 18–10 -– 6

Bids by conference

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Twenty-two conferences earned an automatic bid. In sixteen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirteen at-large teams were selected from six of the conferences. In addition, three independent (not associated with an athletic conference) teams earned at-large bids.[6]

Bids Conference Teams
5 SEC Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
3 ACC Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State
3 Independent Cheyney, Long Beach State, Louisiana Tech
3 Western Collegiate Arizona State, UCLA, USC
2 Big 8 Kansas State, Missouri
2 Metro Florida State, Louisville
2 Southland Northeast Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin
1 Atlantic 10 Penn State
1 Big East St. John's
1 Big Ten Indiana
1 Cosmopolitan Monmouth
1 East Coast La Salle
1 Gateway Illinois State
1 High Country Utah
1 Ivy League Dartmouth
1 MAC Central Michigan
1 MEAC South Carolina State
1 Mountain West Athletic Montana
1 Northern Pacific Oregon State
1 OVC Middle Tennessee State
1 Southwest Texas
1 Sun Belt Old Dominion
1 SWAC Jackson State

Bids by state

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The thirty-six teams represented twenty-four states, plus Washington, D.C. California and Pennsylvania had the most teams with three each. Twenty-six states did not have any teams receiving bids.[6]

NCAA Women's basketball Tournament invitations by state 1983
Bids State Teams
3 California Southern California, Long Beach St., UCLA
3 Pennsylvania Penn St., Cheyney, La Salle
2 Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky
2 Louisiana Louisiana Tech, Northeast Louisiana
2 Mississippi Jackson St., Mississippi
2 North Carolina North Carolina, North Carolina St.
2 Tennessee Middle Tenn., Tennessee
2 Texas Texas, Stephen F. Austin
1 Alabama Auburn
1 Arizona Arizona St.
1 Florida Florida State
1 Georgia Georgia
1 Illinois Illinois St..
1 Indiana Indiana
1 Kansas Kansas St.
1 Maryland Maryland
1 Michigan Central Michigan
1 Missouri Missouri
1 Montana Montana
1 New Hampshire Dartmouth
1 New Jersey Monmouth
1 New York St. John's NY
1 Oregon Oregon St.
1 South Carolina South Carolina St.
1 Utah Utah
1 Virginia Old Dominion

First round

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1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament is located in the United States
Monroe
Monroe
Hanover
Hanover
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Jackson
Jackson
1983 NCAA opening round
1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament is located in the United States
Norfolk
Norfolk
College Park
College Park
Cheyney
Cheyney
Raleigh
Raleigh
Knoxville
Knoxville
Lexington
Lexington
University
University
Athens
Athens
Manhattan
Manhattan
Ruston
Ruston
Auburn
Auburn
Austin
Austin
Long Beach
Long Beach
Tempe
Tempe
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Corvallis
Corvallis
1983 NCAA first round

In 1983, the field expanded from 32 to 36 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-9 in each region. The 8 and 9 seeds in each region played a play-in game, called the opening round (OR). In the opening round and Round 1, the higher seed was given the opportunity to host the first-round game, and all but one of the higher seeds hosted. Missouri was a 4 seed, but unable to host, so the game was played at 5 seed Auburn.[5]

The following table lists the region, host school, venue and location. The opening round games are denoted with "OR".

Region Host Venue City State
OR West Northeast Louisiana University Ewing Coliseum Monroe Louisiana
OR East Dartmouth College Alumni Gymnasium Hanover New Hampshire
OR Mideast La Salle University Hayman Hall (Tom Gola Arena) Philadelphia Pennsylvania
OR Midwest Jackson State University Williams Assembly Center Jackson Mississippi
East Old Dominion University Old Dominion University Fieldhouse Norfolk Virginia
East University of Maryland, College Park Cole Field House College Park Maryland
East Cheyney State University of Pennsylvania Cope Hall Cheyney Pennsylvania
East North Carolina State University Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh North Carolina
Mideast University of Tennessee Stokely Athletic Center Knoxville Tennessee
Mideast University of Kentucky Memorial Coliseum Lexington Kentucky
Mideast University of Mississippi Tad Smith Coliseum University Mississippi
Mideast University of Georgia Georgia Coliseum (Stegeman Coliseum) Athens Georgia
Midwest Kansas State University Ahearn Field House Manhattan Kansas
Midwest Louisiana Tech University Thomas Assembly Center Ruston Louisiana
Midwest Auburn University Memorial Coliseum (Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum) Auburn Alabama
Midwest University of Texas at Austin Frank Erwin Center Austin Texas
West California State University, Long Beach University Gym (Gold Mine) Long Beach California
West Arizona State University University Activity Center (Wells Fargo Arena) Tempe Arizona
West University of Southern California Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Los Angeles California
West Oregon State University Gill Coliseum Corvallis Oregon

Regionals and Final Four

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1983 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament is located in the United States
University Park
University Park
Ruston
Ruston
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Norfolk
Norfolk
1983 NCAA regionals and Final Four

The regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 24 to March 27 at these sites:

Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held April 1 and 3 in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.

Brackets

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East regional – Penn State University - University Park, PA (Rec Hall)

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Opening round
March 15
  
Dartmouth 58
Monmouth 77
First round
March 18 and 19
Regional semifinals
March 24 and 25
Regional finals
March 26
         
1 Cheyney 107
8 Monmouth 35
1 Cheyney 72
5 Penn St. 73
4 N.C. State 80
5 Penn State 94
5 Penn State 60
2 Old Dominion 74
3 Maryland 94
6 Central Michigan 71
3 Maryland 57
2 Old Dominion 74
2 Old Dominion 86
7 St John's 63

Midwest regional – Louisiana Tech - Ruston, LA (Thomas Assembly Center)

[edit]
Opening Round
March 15
  
Jackson State 61
MTSU 64
First round
March 18 and 19
Regional semifinals
March 24 and 25
Regional finals
March 27
         
1 Louisiana Tech 91
8 MTSU 59
1 Louisiana Tech 81
5 Auburn 54
4 Missouri 76
5 Auburn 94
1 Louisiana Tech 72
2 Texas 58
3 Kansas State 91
6 Illinois State 72
3 Kansas State 70
2 Texas 73OT
2 Texas 84
7 Louisville 55

Mideast regional – Notre Dame - Notre Dame, IN Edmund P. Joyce Center

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Opening round
March 16
  
La Salle 67
South Carolina State 85
First round
March 18 and 19
Regional semifinals
March 24 and 25
Regional finals
March 26
         
1 Tennessee 86
8 South Carolina State 51
1 Tennessee 903OT
4 Mississippi 83
4 Mississippi 86
5 Florida State 76
1 Tennessee 63
2 Georgia 67
3 Kentucky 76
6 Indiana 87
6 Indiana 70
2 Georgia 86
2 Georgia 72
7 North Carolina 70

West regional – UCLA - Los Angeles, CA (Pauley Pavilion)

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Opening round
March 15
  
Northeast Louisiana 72
Montana 53
First round
March 18–19
Regional semifinals
March 24–25
Regional finals
March 27
         
1 Southern California 99
8 Northeast Louisiana 85
1 Southern California 96
4 Arizona State 59
4 Arizona State 78
5 Utah 64
1 Southern California 81
2 Long Beach State 74
3 Oregon State 75
6 UCLA 62
3 Oregon State 72
2 Long Beach State 92
2 Long Beach State 88
7 Stephen F. Austin 61

Final Four – Norfolk, Virginia

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National semifinals
April 1
National championship
April 3
      
2E Old Dominion 55
1MW Louisiana Tech 71
1MW Louisiana Tech 67
1W Southern California 69
2ME Georgia 57
1W Southern California 81

Record by conference

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Fifteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[6]

Conference # of Bids Record Win % Round
of 32
Sweet
Sixteen
Elite
Eight
Final
Four
Championship
Game
Southeastern 5 7–5 .583 4 4 2 1
Independent 3 7–3 .700 3 3 2 1 1
Western Collegiate 3 6–2 .750 2 2 1 1 1
Atlantic Coast 3 1–3 .250 1 1
Big Eight 2 1–2 .333 1 1
Southland 2 1–2 .333
Metro 2 0–2
Sun Belt 1 3–1 .750 1 1 1 1
Atlantic 10 1 2–1 .667 1 1 1
Southwest 1 2–1 .667 1 1 1
Big Ten 1 1–1 .500 1 1
Cosmopolitan 1 1–1 .500
Mid-Eastern 1 1–1 .500
Northern Pacific 1 1–1 .500 1 1
Ohio Valley 1 1–1 .500

Eight conferences went 0-1: Big East, East Coast, Gateway, High Country, Ivy League, MAC, Mountain West Athletic, and SWAC[6]

All-Tournament team

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Game officials

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  • Jan Donahue (semifinal)
  • Skip Gill (semifinal)
  • Kit Robinson (semifinal, final)
  • Pete Stewart (semifinal, final) [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gregory Cooper. "1983 Tournament". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
  2. ^ "CHN Basketball History: Most Outstanding Player". Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2007.
  3. ^ Neff, Craig. "Welcome To Miller Time". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "Championship records remembered". NCAA. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Nixon, Rick. "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.