MINOT, N.D. -- Minot State will open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday (Feb. 21) when it hosts Winona State at 6 p.m. in an opening round game in the Minot State Dome.

The Beavers enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed from the North Division, but earned a home game due to a better conference record than the fourth-seeded Warriors. Minot State, which has won eight of its last 11 games, finished the regular season with a 14-12 overall record and an 11-11 mark in the NSIC. Winona State secured the fourth seed from the South Division with a 14-12 overall record and a 10-12 league record.

Minot State is hosting an opening round game in the tournament for the first time since meeting Upper Iowa on Feb. 26, 2014.

The Minot State-Winona State game will precede the Minot State-Upper Iowa men's game as both teams earned hosting rights.

Prices for the tournament are set by the NSIC and no passes, season tickets or complimentary tickets will be accepted. Adults are $12 per person, students are $2 per person and children 5-and-under are admitted free of charge. Tickets will go on sale on Monday (Feb. 19) at 8 a.m. and can be purchased online at msubeavertickets.com

Northern State, Minnesota State Moorhead and Augustana finished the season as tri-champions as each team finished with a 19-3 conference record. Northern State is the top seed from the North Division and will host Upper Iowa, while Augustana secured the top seed from the South Division and will host Bemidji State. Other first round tournament games feature Wayne State hosting Minnesota Crookston, Concordia-St. Paul at St. Cloud State, Minnesota State at Minnesota Duluth, Southwest Minnesota State at Minnesota State Moorhead and Mary at Sioux Falls.

The quarterfinals, semifinals and championship will take place on February 24, 26-27 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.  All rounds of the NSIC/Sanford Health Women's Basketball Tournament played at the Sanford Pentagon will to aired live on MidcoSN and streamed for free via Stretch Internet.

Wed., Feb. 21 - First Round
(S8) Upper Iowa at (N1) Northern State, 6 p.m.
(S4) Winona State at (N5) Minot State, 6 p.m.
(N7) Minnesota Crookston at (S2) Wayne State, 7 p.m.
(S6) Concordia-St. Paul at (N3) St. Cloud State, 6 p.m.
(N8) Bemidji State at (S1) Augustana, 6/7 p.m.
(S5) Minnesota State at (N4) Minnesota Duluth, 7 p.m.
(S7) Southwest Minnesota State at (N2) MSU Moorhead, 7 p.m.
(N6) Mary at (S3) Sioux Falls, 6 p.m.