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NCAA.com coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship to be simulcast by select television broadcast outlets

High definition coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship will be made available by NCAA.com to select television broadcast outlets, the NCAA and Turner Sports announced today.

The women’s lacrosse championship will be fully produced and webcast by NCAA.com.  The web stream of the event will be carried on live or delayed basis by the Big Ten Network (BTN), Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS), Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic (CSNMA) and Comcast SportsNet New England (CSNNE).  These networks consistently cover the four teams vying for this week’s championship: University of Maryland, College Park; Duke University; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and Northwestern University.

“Being able to provide the best experience for the student-athletes, and in turn laud their successes, is of utmost importance to the NCAA,” said Greg Shaheen, NCAA interim executive vice president of championships and alliances. “Showcasing the growing sport of women’s lacrosse through NCAA.com previews the future of broadcast convergence while also making the games available through conventional broadcast outlets.”

The four camera HD production will include instant replay, NCAA Productions graphics, music and a lower right graphic clock and score bug with NCAA logo.  The play-by-play announcer is Ralph Bednarczyk, the analyst is Sarah Oliphant and the sideline reporter is Kara Lentz.  The producer is Steve Clay and the director is John Servizzi.

The 2010 agreement between the NCAA and Turner Sports enables a number of NCAA championships to be carried exclusively on NCAA.com.  With the dramatic increase of production quality Turner has already brought to the new NCAA.com, the ability to provide even more exposure for the student-athletes on the website is a priority.

Turner Sports and the NCAA agreed the Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship provided the next available opportunity for a multi-platform approach to showcase the championship and tell the student-athlete story.  It also continues the high value placed on the importance of the evolving world of broadcast media.

Coverage includes the two semifinal matchups on Friday, May 27 (Maryland vs. Duke at 5 p.m. Eastern time, followed by North Carolina vs. Northwestern at approx. 7:30 p.m. Eastern time) and the championship on Sunday, May 29 at 4 p.m. Eastern time.  Broadcast details follow.

For more information on the NCAA Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship, go to NCAA.com.