DePaul didn't have to wait long to learn its NCAA fate on Monday.
Just minutes into the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament selection show, the Blue Demons were unveiled as a No. 11 seed in the Sacramento region and face sixth-seeded Vanderbilt in Sunday's opening round in Cincinnati.
Notre Dame is also tourney-bound after landing the No. 2 seed in the Kansas City regional and hosts an opening round game on Sunday.
"I'm just so proud of our players for overcoming adversity," coach Doug Bruno said. "A month ago we had to win out to do this. I'm really proud of them for facing adversity all season long and down the stretch."
A loud cheer greeted the selection during a viewing party at McGrath Arena as the Blue Demons (21-11) celebrated their eighth straight NCAA appearance and 15th since 1990.
The resilient Blue Demons won six of their last nine games to become the only Illinois team to land a spot in either the NCAA men's or women's tournaments.
"Every season has a life of its own and it's always how the players respond," Bruno said.. "It starts with Sam Quigley and Felicia Chester -- they were great leaders for this team -- and then the young players stepped up. Keisha Hampton, Anna Martin and Katherine Harry all matured."
Hampton (13.8 points) and Quigley (13.2) were the team's top scorers followed by Martin (10.1) and Chester (10.0).
DePaul and Notre Dame, who host Cleveland State at 1:30 p.m. CT Sunday at the Joyce Center, are among seven Big East entries. It's the 15th straight NCAA appearance for Notre Dame and highest since winning the 2001 national crown.
Currently ranked seventh nationally, the Irish finished fourth in the Big East and reached the conference semifinals before falling to Connecticut.
The defending national champion Huskies (33-0) landed the overall No. 1 tourney seed. Others Big East qualifiers include West Virginia, Georgetown, St. John's and Rutgers.
DePaul suffered key personnel losses when guards China Threatt failed to recover from a 2009 injury and the Demons lost star Deirdre Naughton to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in game five.
That forced Quigley, Chester and Hampton to shoulder heavier loads.
"We proved at the end of the year that we deserved to be in the NCAA tournament," said Quigley, a junior guard from Joliet making her third NCAA appearance. "We've lost the first (NCAA) game the past four years, so we're excited to have the opportunity to do something different."
Martin and Harry, both freshmen, stepped into starting roles and delivered.
"I felt like every game I gained more experience and it made me much better," Martin said. "So when it came to crunch time and we were desperate (to win) five in a row... we all had to step up."
Sunday's game is a 11:11 a.m. (CT) at Cincinnati's Cintas Center. Vanderbilt (22-10) is making its 23rd overall NCAA appearance and 10th straight. The Commodores were 9-7 in the SEC.
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