GREENWOOD , IN - The HCAC women's basketball tournament will get underway Tuesday night with opening round action. The six-team tournament will decide who receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. The semifinals and finals will be held at Transylvania University Friday and Saturday.

Transylvania (20-5, 14-2 HCAC) heads into the tournament winners of five straight and earned the outright conference championship with a win at Anderson Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers posted an 8-2 record against the five other schools involved in the conference tournament. Anderson (15-10, 12-4 HCAC) earned a 6-4 mark against the field, while Hanover (16-8, 10-6 HCAC), Franklin (14-10, 10-6 HCAC), and Manchester (14-11, 9-7 HCAC) went 5-5 and Bluffton (15-10, 7-9 HCAC) 1-9.

Transylvania earned the school's second HCAC women's basketball championship and first since the 2002-2003 season. The top seed Pioneers will take on the winner of Franklin and Manchester Friday afternoon in the HCAC semifinals. Transy posted a sweep of Franklin and earned a split with Manchester this season.

Franklin lost three of their last five games to end the regular season and will look to get back on track with a win over three-time defending tournament champ Manchester in the opening round. The No. 4 seed Grizzlies will look to move into the semifinals at Transylvania with a win at home over No. 5 Manchester Tuesday night. Franklin and Manchester split their two meetings during the regular season with each winning on their home floor. The two teams will tip at 7:30 PM Tuesday night at Franklin College .

Anderson will be searching for their second tournament championship this weekend. The Ravens fell to Manchester in last year's conference tournament title game as the Spartans marked their third straight tourney title. AU enters the 2009 tournament as the No. 2 seed and will take on the winner of Hanover and Bluffton in the second semifinal at Transylvania Friday. The Ravens lost their last two games heading into the postseason but were very successful against Hanover and Bluffton during the regular season. AU earned a sweep of both HC and BU during their two meetings.

Hanover claimed the No. 3 seed and will play host to No. 6 Bluffton at 7:30 PM Tuesday night at Hanover . The Panthers and Beavers split their regular season meetings as both teams won at home. Hanover has won three straight, while Bluffton has posted wins in their last two games heading into Tuesday night's game. The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the semis to face Anderson at Transy Friday.

The HCAC tournament championship game will take place at 5:00 PM Saturday afternoon at Transylvania University .

Women's Basketball Tournament Schedule Feb. 24 -Feb. 28