WICHITA - Newman University will host the 2011-12 Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Championship tournament this weekend inside Fugate Gymnasium. The top-seeded Jets will open their tournament against fourth-seeded St. Mary's Friday, Mar. 2, at 7:30 p.m.

The tournament, which determines the Heartland Conference representative in the 2011-12 NCAA Division II Championship, will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, when the second-seeded Falcons of Texas-Permian Basin take on the third-seeded Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions. UTPB (19-7, 9-3 Heartland) swept UAFS (18-8, 9-3 Heartland) in the regular season series. The Falcons stole a 77-74 decsion on Jan. 1 in Fort Smith, Ark., before completing the sweep with a 72-61 win on Feb. 9 in Odessa, Texas.

Newman posted a 21-5 overall record, and a 10-2 mark against Heartland Conference opponents during the 2011-12 regular season. They will meet the St. Mary's Rattlers in Friday's 7:30 p.m. semi-final. The season series between the Jets and Rattlers is tied, with each team winning on its home court. Newman picked up a 66-59 win on Jan. 14 in Wichita, while the Rattlers won a 74-66 overtime contest on Feb. 9 in San Antonio.

The winner of each of Friday's semi-finals will advance to the championship game, which is slated for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday.

Complete coverage of the tournament will be available starting Thursday at www.newmanjets.com.

2011-12 Heartland Conference Women's Basketball Championship
Friday, March 2
Game 1 - 5 p.m.: (2) Texas-Permian Basin vs. (3) Arkansas-Fort Smith
Game 2 - 7:30 p.m.: (1) Newman vs. (4) St. Mary's

Saturday, March 3
Championship - 2 p.m.: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner

All games played inside Fugate Gymnasium.