FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado Chill clinched the top seed in the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) playoffs for the second straight season, but this year they have the chance to play on their home court.

Colorado clinched the top seed with a record of 16-8 and won a share of the regular season title. Chicago finished the regular season in fourth place with a record of 13-11.

In 2004, Colorado won the regular season title with a record of 15-6, but they were forced to go to Dallas for the NWBL Pro Cup. The Chill ended up losing to the second seed Dallas Fury 73-69 in the Pro Cup Final.

Becky Hammon and the rest of the Chill are hoping for a different result this season, as they open the 2005 playoffs with a semifinal match-up with the Chicago Blaze tomorrow night at the Budweiser Events Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

During the 2005 season, the Chill held a 4-2 record against the Blaze, including a perfect 3-0 mark at the Budweiser Events Center. In Colorado's two seasons in the NWBL they own a record of 8-3 against the team from Chicago, with one of the wins coming in last year's semifinal game in Dallas.

Hammon leads a quartet of four players that average at least 15 points per game this season against Chicago. Hammon is averaging 26.0 ppg on better than 50% (52-97) shooting from the field and 3-point line (26-45).

Other players averaging at least 15 points include Katie Cronin (16.3 ppg), Ruth Riley (15.7) and Carrie Bacon (15.3). Cronin's average is aided by a remarkable 30-point performance she had on Jan. 16 in Chicago. She finished the game 10-of-17 from the field, but was 8-of-10 from 3-point range.

As a team, Colorado shot .473 (669-1415) from the field and were even better against Chicago as they connected on .482 (172-357) of their attempts on the season. Seven of Colorado's regulars shot at least 42% from the field in the six games with the Blaze, led by the 53% marks of Hammon and Riley.

One other impressive number for Colorado against the Blaze has been the free throw shooting. The Chill is shooting .864 (121-140) from the line, compared to just .790 (94-119) for the Blaze. On three different occasions, Colorado was perfect from the charity stripe making all 45 of their attempts in those games.

Chicago has been led this season by point guard Keisha Anderson and forwards LaTonya Johnson, Keila Beachem and Ebony Hoffman. The four players have tried to fill the void of often-absent Tamika Catchings, who has missed 14 of the team's games due to class obligations at the University of Tennessee. Catchings' is not expected to make the trip to Colorado for tomorrow's semifinal game.

If Colorado were to win tomorrow night against the Blaze, they will host the winner of the second semifinal game between Lubbock and Dallas. The 2005 NWBL Championship Game would take place on Friday, April 1 at 7:05 p.m.

Individual game tickets for the 2005 playoffs can be purchased online at www.comcasttix.com, by phone at 877-544-8499 or at the Budweiser Events Center Box Office. General admission tickets are also available for purchase at Triple Crown Sports (3930 Automation Way, Fort Collins). GA tickets are $6 for youth (12 and under) and $11 for adults.

Group tickets for the semifinal game with Chicago, as well as the possible game, can be purchased from the Budweiser Events Center by calling Tracie Fehringer at 970-619-4122. Group prices start at just $5 per ticket and range up to $11 per ticket for groups of 10 or more.

The NWBL is a six-team league that features more than 25 active WNBA players. Other teams in the league include the Birmingham Power (Birmingham, Ala.); Dallas Fury (Carrollton, Texas); Chicago Blaze (Naperville, Ill.); San Jose Spiders (San Jose, Calif.) and Lubbock Hawks (Lubbock, Texas). For more information on the NWBL, visit the league website at www.triplecrownsports.com.

Colorado Chill Women's Basketball - (970) 223-6644
Aaron M. Moore, General Manager