MOSCOW, Idaho—The University of Idaho will enter the 2016 NCAA Tournament as a No. 16 seed in the Dallas Region. The Vandals (24-9) will play the first-seeded Baylor Bears on Friday, Mar. 18 in Waco, Texas (2:00 p.m. PT, ESPN2).

"It will be a big challenge," head coach Jon Newlee said following the announcement. "We will not back down from it. We will be ready to play on Friday."

Idaho earned its third trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past four season, defeating Idaho State, 67-55, in the Big Sky Tournament championship. Freshman Mikayla Ferenz scored 18 points in the game and 67 in the tournament on her way to being voted Tournament MVP.

"Our goal every year is to get to the NCAA Tournament," senior Christina Salvatore commented. "We did that. In our book it has been a successful year and we are just going to try to keep playing."

The Vandals return to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 after missing out on post-season play a year ago. Previously, Idaho made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2013 and 2014. Idaho was a No. 14 seed in 2014 and a No. 16 seed in 2013.  This time around Baylor enters the tournament ranked No. 4 in the country by the Associated Press. The Bears are coming off a 79-63 win over Texas in the Big 12 championship.

"To get to the NCAA Tournament three times is an amazing accomplishment," Newlee added. "It is really magical what these last four teams have been able to accomplish."

The Vandals and the Bears met last season in Waco. The Vandals played the bears close keeping the game to nine points in the first half. Stacey Barr led Idaho with a game-high 31 points in the 88-70 loss.

This will be the fourth NCAA Tournament trip for the Vandal women. Idaho first made the tournament in 1984, after a 28-2 season.

Tickets for the first and second rounds are available online at govandals.com/tickets, over the phone (208-885-6466) or in person at the Kibbie Dome box office.