Site: RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C.
When: Today, tomorrow, Friday, Saturday
2003 champion: Shaw
2004 favorite: Shaw. The Bears, who will be playing in their hometown, tore through the CIAA regular season with a 16-0 record for the first time in school history and were 25-2 overall. Junior G Jessica Hawkins was named the CIAA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Three of her teammates, junior G Kiarsha Curtis, senior F Margiella Mobley and senior F Latasha Shipman, were all-conference.
Dark horse: Fayetteville State. The Lady Broncos (14-11) are the CIAA's top free-throw shooting team (68.6 percent), lead the league in steals (16.25 a game) and are second in three-point shooting (.325). Also, Fayetteville State gave Shaw a good run before losing, 87-78, in their only meeting this season.