 | |||||
| Teams | 48 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington | ||||
| Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (2nd title, 3rd title game, 6th Final Four) | ||||
| Runner-up | Auburn Tigers (2nd title game, 2nd Final Four) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
| ||||
| Winning coach | Pat Summitt (2nd title) | ||||
| MOP | Bridgette Gordon (Tennessee) | ||||
| |||||
The1989 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament began on March 15 and ended on April 2. The tournament expanded from 40 to 48 teams. The Final Four consisted ofAuburn,Louisiana Tech,Tennessee, andMaryland, with Tennessee winning its second title with a 76–60 victory overAuburn.[1] Tennessee'sBridgette Gordon was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.[2]
Auburn has only six turnovers in the National Semi-final game against Louisiana Tech, the fewest turnovers recorded in a Final Four game.
Bridgette Gordon scored 17 points from the free throw line in the East Regional final between Tennessee and Long Beach state, the most ever scored in an NCAA tournament game.
Maryland had 25 steals in a game against Stephen F. Austin in the West Regional semifinal, the most in an NCAA tournament game, since the statistic has been recorded (starting in 1988).
Jennifer Azzi hit nine of eleven three point attempts over the course of the tournament, the best percentage ever recorded in a tournament game (minimum- 1.5 made per game)
Stanford hit 22 of 33 three point attempts over the course of the tournament, the best percentage ever recorded in a tournament game (minimum - three games)[3]
Forty-eight teams were selected to participate in the 1989 NCAA Tournament. Nineteen conferences were eligible for an automatic bid to the 1989 NCAA tournament.[4]
| Automatic bids | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | ||||
| Qualifying school | Conference | Regular Season | Conference | Seed |
| Bowling Green State University | MAC | 25–3 | 16–0 | 9 |
| University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Southern Conference | 19–11 | 5–5 | 12 |
| University of Colorado at Boulder | Big Eight | 27–3 | 14–0 | 3 |
| University of Connecticut | Big East | 24–5 | 13–2 | 8 |
| College of the Holy Cross | MAAC | 21–9 | 10–2 | 9 |
| Illinois State University | Missouri Valley Conference | 22–7 | 16–2 | 7 |
| James Madison University | Colonial | 25–3 | 12–0 | 6 |
| California State University, Long Beach | Big West Conference | 28–4 | 18–0 | 2 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | ACC | 26–2 | 13–1 | 1 |
| University of Montana | Big Sky Conference | 26–3 | 16–0 | 10 |
| Ohio State University | Big Ten | 23–5 | 16–2 | 3 |
| University of South Carolina | Metro | 23–6 | 10–2 | 6 |
| Stanford University | Pac-10 | 26–2 | 18–0 | 2 |
| University of Tennessee | SEC | 30–2 | 8–1 | 1 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Ohio Valley Conference | 21–7 | 9–3 | 11 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Southwest | 25–4 | 16–0 | 2 |
| University of Utah | High Country | 24–5 | 9–1 | 11 |
| West Virginia University | Atlantic 10 | 23–7 | 12–6 | 12 |
| Western Kentucky University | Sun Belt Conference | 22–8 | 5–1 | 5 |
Twenty-nine additional teams were selected to complete the forty-eight invitations.[4]
Nineteen conferences earned an automatic bid. In seven cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Two conferences, Southland and American South sent a single representative as an at-large team. One team earned an at-large bid as an Independent Twenty-six additional at-large teams were selected from ten of the conferences.[4]
| Bids | Conference | Teams |
| 6 | Southeastern | Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt |
| 4 | Big West | Cal St Fullerton, Hawaii, Long Beach St, UNLV |
| 4 | Atlantic Coast | Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina St, Virginia |
| 4 | Atlantic 10 | Rutgers, St Joseph's, Temple, West Virginia |
| 3 | Metro | Cincinnati, South Carolina, Southern Miss |
| 3 | Big Ten | Iowa, Ohio St, Purdue |
| 3 | Big East | Connecticut, Providence, Villanova |
| 2 | Sun Belt | Old Dominion, Western Ky |
| 2 | Southwest | Arkansas, Texas |
| 2 | Southland | Northwestern St, Stephen F. Austin |
| 2 | Pacific-10 | Stanford, Washington |
| 2 | Metro Atlantic | Holy Cross, La Salle |
| 2 | Big Eight | Colorado, Oklahoma St |
| 1 | Southern | Chattanooga |
| 1 | Ohio Valley | Tennessee Tech |
| 1 | Missouri Valley | Illinois St |
| 1 | Mid-American | Bowling Green |
| 1 | Independent | Miami |
| 1 | High Country | Utah |
| 1 | Colonial | James Madison |
| 1 | Big Sky | Montana |
| 1 | American South | Louisiana Tech |
In 1989, the field expanded to 48 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1–12 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 8 and 9 faced each other for the opportunity to face the 1 seed in the second round, seeds 7 and 10 played for the opportunity to face the 2 seed, seeds 5 and 12 played for the opportunity to face the 4 seed, and seeds 6 and 11 played for the opportunity to face the 3 seed. In the first two rounds, the higher seed was given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In most cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity. The exceptions:[3]
Because Purdue was also a first round venue, there are only 31 rather than 32 first and second round venues
The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the thirty-one first and second round locations:
The regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held March 31 and April 2 inTacoma,Washington at theTacoma Dome, hosted by theUniversity of Washington.
The forty-eight teams came from thirty-one states.Pennsylvania and Tennessee had the most teams with four each. Nineteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[4]
| Bids | State | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Pennsylvania | La Salle, St. Joseph's, Temple, Villanova |
| 4 | Tennessee | Chattanooga, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt |
| 3 | California | Long Beach St., Stanford, Cal St. Fullerton |
| 3 | Louisiana | Louisiana Tech, LSU, Northwestern St. |
| 3 | Ohio | Bowling Green, Ohio St., Cincinnati |
| 3 | Virginia | James Madison, Old Dominion, Virginia |
| 2 | Mississippi | Ole Miss, Southern Miss. |
| 2 | South Carolina | South Carolina, Clemson |
| 2 | Texas | Texas, Stephen F. Austin |
| 1 | Alabama | Auburn |
| 1 | Arkansas | Arkansas |
| 1 | Colorado | Colorado |
| 1 | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| 1 | Florida | Miami FL |
| 1 | Georgia | Georgia |
| 1 | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| 1 | Illinois | Illinois St.. |
| 1 | Indiana | Purdue |
| 1 | Iowa | Iowa |
| 1 | Kentucky | Western Ky. |
| 1 | Maryland | Maryland |
| 1 | Massachusetts | Holy Cross |
| 1 | Montana | Montana |
| 1 | Nevada | UNLV |
| 1 | New Jersey | Rutgers |
| 1 | North Carolina | North Carolina St. |
| 1 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma St. |
| 1 | Rhode Island | Providence |
| 1 | Utah | Utah |
| 1 | Washington | Washington |
| 1 | West Virginia | West Virginia |
First and second-round games played at higher seed except where noted.
| First round March 15 | Second round March 18–19 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Auburn | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Temple | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Temple | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Holy Cross | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Auburn | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Clemson | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Clemson | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Georgia | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Georgia | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Chattanooga | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Auburn | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ole Miss | 51 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | North Carolina St. | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Rutgers | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Rutgers | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Southern Miss | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | North Carolina St. | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ole Miss | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ole Miss | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Old Dominion | 58 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Old Dominion | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Villanova | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 | Second round March 18–19 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 103 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Oklahoma St. | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Miami (FL) | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | atOklahoma St. | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | LSU | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | LSU | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | atPurdue | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Purdue | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Arkansas | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Louisiana Tech | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Stanford | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Stanford | 105 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Illinois St. | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Illinois St. | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Northwestern St. | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Stanford | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Iowa | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Iowa | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Tennessee Tech | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | South Carolina | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Tennessee Tech | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 | Second round March 18–19 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 91 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | La Salle | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Connecticut | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | La Salle | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Virginia | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Virginia | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | West Virginia | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Western Kentucky | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | West Virginia | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tennessee | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Long Beach St. | 80 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Long Beach St. | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | St. Joseph's | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Vanderbilt | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | atSt. Joseph's | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Long Beach St. | 89 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ohio St. | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Ohio St. | 81 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | James Madison | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | James Madison | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Providence | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| First round March 15 | Second round March 18–19 | Regional semifinals March 23 | Regional finals March 25 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Maryland | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Bowling Green | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Cincinnati | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | atBowling Green | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Maryland | 89 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Stephen F. Austin | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Stephen F. Austin | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Washington | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Washington | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Hawaii | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Maryland | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Texas | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Texas | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Montana | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Cal St. Fullerton | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | atMontana | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Texas | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNLV | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Colorado | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNLV | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNLV | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Utah | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
| National semifinals March 31 | National championship April 2 | ||||||||
| 1ME | Auburn | 76 | |||||||
| 1MW | Louisiana Tech | 71 | |||||||
| 1ME | Auburn | 60 | |||||||
| 1E | Tennessee | 76 | |||||||
| 1E | Tennessee | 77 | |||||||
| 1W | Maryland | 65 | |||||||
Nineteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[4]
| Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32 | Sweet Sixteen | Elite Eight | Final Four | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern | 6 | 13–5 | .722 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Atlantic Coast | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Atlantic 10 | 4 | 4–4 | .500 | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Big West | 4 | 4–4 | .500 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – |
| Big Ten | 3 | 3–3 | .500 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Big East | 3 | 0–3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Metro | 3 | 0–3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pacific-10 | 2 | 3–2 | .600 | 2 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Southwest | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Big Eight | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Metro Atlantic | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Southland | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Sun Belt | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| American South | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Big Sky | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Colonial | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Mid-American | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Missouri Valley | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Ohio Valley | 1 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Two conferences went 0-1:High Country, andSouthern Conference[4]