1998 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
![]() | |||||
Teams | 64 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finals site | Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri | ||||
Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (6th title, 8th title game, 11th Final Four) | ||||
Runner-up | Louisiana Tech Techsters (6th title game, 9th Final Four) | ||||
Semifinalists |
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Winning coach | Pat Summitt (6th title) | ||||
MOP | Chamique Holdsclaw (Tennessee) | ||||
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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).
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
[edit]- 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
[edit]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]
Qualifying teams – at-large
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Regionals and Final Four
[edit]The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 20 to March 23 at these sites:
- Mideast Regional Memorial Gymnasium (Vanderbilt University), Nashville, Tennessee (Host: Vanderbilt University)
- Midwest Regional Lubbock Municipal Coliseum, Lubbock, Texas (Host: Texas Tech University)
- East Regional University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)
- West Regional Oracle Arena, Oakland, California (Host: University of California, Santa Barbara)
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
[edit]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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/NCAA_Women%27s_basketball_Tournament_invitations_by_state_1998.svg/500px-NCAA_Women%27s_basketball_Tournament_invitations_by_state_1998.svg.png)
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
[edit]Data source[2]
East Region - Dayton, OH
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
- Tamika Catchings, Tennessee
- Kellie Jolly, Tennessee
- Tamicha Jackson, Louisiana Tech
- Chasity Melvin, North Carolina St.[2]
Game officials
[edit]- 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
[edit]- 1997–98 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team
- 1998 Harvard vs. Stanford women's basketball game
- 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- 1998 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
- 1998 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
- 1998 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
- 1998 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament
Notes
[edit]- ^ Nixon, Rick. "2023 Women's Final Four Championship Record Book" (PDF). NCAA. p. 85. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.