The Lady Tigers are back in the NCAA Tournament, ESPN announced on Monday. 
LSU (20-11, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) enters the tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Oklahoma City Region, and will face No. 9 seed California Golden Bears.
LSU’s matchup against California will take place at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas on Saturday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Tigers return to the tournament marks the fifth appearance under coach Nikki Fargas and 25th in school history.
The Golden Bears (19-11) last faced LSU in 2013, when they ended the Lady Tigers Sweet 16 run, defeating LSU 73-63.
The winner of the game will face No. 1 seed Baylor.
LSU has battled through the a tough non-conference schedule, which included the overall No. 1 seed Connecticut Huskies, as well as a brutal conference schedule.
The SEC finished among one of the strongest conferences in the country this season, with eight teams making the tournament.
“It’s tough in our league,” Fargas said. “We have some of the best coaches and best players. Finishing No.7 in our league is not a bad finish.”
LSU looks at it’s difficult schedule as great preparation heading into the tournament.
“We’ve went against great competition and I definitely think it prepared us,” sophomore guard Chloe Jackson said.
Many players on the team will be playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time, but the Lady Tigers aren’t taking a different approach. 
“It’s a big a stage for us,” junior guard Raigyne Moncrief said. “It’s our time to shine. Just treat it like another game.”