CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State women's basketball, the 2023 Horizon League Champions, will open the NCAA Tournament as the 13 seed in the Greenville 2 Regional on Saturday, March 18, facing fourth-seeded Villanova in Philadelphia, Pa.

The Vikings enter the tournament at 30-4 overall and finished in second place in the Horizon League regular season standings with a record of 17-3 – both records marking program-bests. Cleveland State then went on to defeat Milwaukee, Northern Kentucky and Green Bay in the league tournament to earn the Horizon League's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Cleveland State will be making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history, with its first trip coming in 2008 and its second appearance coming in 2010. The Vikings were playing as 15-seeds during both of their first NCAA Tournament appearances.

Villanova is currently 28-6 overall on the year, and finished 17-3 in BIG EAST regular season play. The Wildcats advanced to the championship game of the BIG EAST Tournament last week, falling to UConn in the title game.

Saturday's NCAA First Round matchup will be the first meeting between Cleveland State and Villanova in program history.

The winner of the Cleveland State – Villanova contest will advance to the second round to face the winner of the No. 5 Washington State – No. 12 FGCU first round game on Monday, March 20.