The Division III Women's Basketball Committee will forward recommendations to the Division III Championships Committee in June to add to selection criteria for the 2003 championship.

During its annual meeting in Indianapolis April 21-24, the committee discussed three additions, including factoring in won-lost record against teams with a winning percentage over .500, won-lost record against teams under .500 and results against regionally ranked teams. To be considered regionally ranked, a team would have to appear in the regional rankings for at least two weeks.

"The committee believes it is important to use all available information to make the most thorough comparisons and best decisions possible," said Sue Lauder, committee chair and athletics director at Fitchburg State College. "The use of these additional criteria will emphasize the importance of strong in-region play as a basis for selection."

In situations when the selection criteria already in place do not distinguish between two teams, the committee wants to be able to consider head-to-head competition, results against common opponents and teams already in the tournament nationally, rather than just regionally. The recommendations will have to be approved by the Division III Championships Committee in June.

In other notes, the committee will be conducting its weekly regional calls on Tuesdays during the 2002-03 season and the national rankings on Wednesdays to allow for more time to collect results. The weekly polls will consider scores up until the previous Sunday for each week's ranking.

Also, bids for the 2004 and 2005 championships are being accepted until September 1 and should be forwarded to Donnie Wagner at the national office. The 2003 finals will again be hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Finally, the committee recommended that Becky Geyer, head women's basketball coach at Trinity University (Texas), be the next committee chair beginning in September.