Check out the NCAA D-II tourney next week. The national quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 26 will be streamed live on the internet via NCAASports.com.

The national semifinals on Thursday, March 27 will be telecast on ESPNU. The national championship game, scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. PDT Saturday, March 29 will be telecast on ESPN2.

First game up: Alaska-Anchorage v. Franklin Pierce (noon, Central)

Some happy Seawolves landed in Anchorage and are looking forward to their Elite Eight matchup next week against Rindge, New Hampshire's finest, Franklin Pierce. UA-A defense is key:

"We know it's important because coach talks about it every day," said junior center Rebecca Kielpinski. "Just winning the toughness areas, defense and rebounding. We hold each other responsible and these last couple weeks our defense has picked up a lot."

Expect the Seawolves to focus on Jennifer and Johannah Leedham, sisters from Ellesmere Port, England, who account for nearly half of the team's points.

Junior point guard Jennifer is solid (10 points, 4.1 assists and 4 rebounds per game), it's sophomore Johannah Leedham who will draw the most attention. The reigning Northeast 10 conference player of the year (22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.4 steals) has scored 30 or more points six times, including her last two outings.

The Ravens got to the Elite Eight by handing #1 seed (and undefeated) Holy Name Family an 88-71 loss -- on HF's home court.

Next, Wingate v. Northern Kentucky (2:30), followed by Delta State v. California (Pa.) (6:00)

California head coach is trying to keep it low key when speaking to her players about facing Delta, which is 32-0 with a winning margin of nearly 21 points per game.

"The less we tell the kids, sometimes, that's beneficial," said Vincent, who is taking California (27-6) to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the third time in her eight seasons as head coach and the first time since 2004 when it won the national championship.

"We have a bunch of young thoroughbreds, but the only experience we have is the coaching staff," she said. "We're trying to keep it that we're a low-key team and we're not hyping it up."

Last, but not least, it'll be South Dakota v. Washburn (8:30)

#3 South Dakota (31-1) has reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history, and it was the last chance with the school moving to Division I next season.

"We're elated to be there," said head coach Chad Lavin, who's
retiring at the end of this season. "We've had a season no coach could dream about. I'm happy for our young ladies because they've worked extremely hard."We have four seniors and it's their last shot, and the last shot for our entire team since our school is going Division I next year. All that together has made it pretty special."