SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – IUP head coach Tom McConnell joined seven other coaches at the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight pre-tournament press conference Sunday afternoon at the Sanford Pentagon.
 
The press conference brought all eight women's basketball head coaches together as they previewed the start of this week's NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Sioux Falls.
 
CLICK HERE TO WATCH

"The word that you've heard the most is gratitude, and grateful," said McConnell in his opening statement. "So I think that's a common theme and one of the reasons why I'm fortunate enough to be here sitting with all of these coaches. That's kind of the way we feel, we're very grateful for the opportunity to be here," said McConnell. It's one of our core values is gratitude. We really want to enjoy the experience."
 
IUP enters the Elite Eight as the Atlantic Region Champions with a 29-3 overall record. The Crimson Hawks blew out rival California (Pa.) 90-65, shut down high-scoring Glenville State 88-68, and defeated Bowie State 75-60 to advance to the program's first national quarterfinal since 1999.
 
The Crimson Hawks will face Stonehill (29-3) out of the Northeast 10 Conference.  Stonehill won the East Region as the top-seed with a 71-61 victory over University of the Sciences.
 
"I told our players when the NCAA tournament started 'Let's be the team that has the most fun,'" said McConnell. "So that's the thing that we've tried to do and really enjoy the experience."
 
IUP and Stonehill will be the last national quarterfinal to tipoff on Monday, with a start time of 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUP_WBB.