INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Texas Lutheran University women's basketball team opens the 64-team NCAA Division III Tournament in Richardson, Texas, on Friday. NCAA Release

Texas Lutheran (19-9) meets the No. 16 University of Texas-Dallas in the first round at the Comets' home. No. 13 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (25-3) plays Rhodes College (17-11) in the other first-round game. The winners advances to Saturday's second-round matchup. Playing times will be announced.

This marks the second consecutive year the SCAC champion has been shipped to Richardson to open NCAA play against the Comets. Trinity dropped a 79-70 decision to UT-Dallas in the 2018 first round.

The NCAA Sectionals are slated for March 8-9, with the sites to be announced. The semifinals/final will be conducted at Cregger Center on the campus of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, 

Texas Lutheran is competing in its second NCAA Tournament, and first since 2014 under Head Coach Mel Dixon.

The Bulldogs earned their berth by winning the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship last week on their home floor, defeating three-time defending champion Trinity, 68-62.