By Shannon Russell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Regular-season titles and conference tournament seeds are on the line as Cincinnati, Xavier and Miami head into a high-stakes weekend of women's basketball.

UC (20-5, 10-2 Conference USA) enters its final regular-season weekend tied with Charlotte (18-7) for first place in the conference. Led by C-USA Player of the Week Debbie Merrill, the Bearcats play at Memphis (12-13, 5-7) at 8 p.m. today and at Saint Louis (15-12, 6-6) at 3 p.m. Sunday.

UC, the defending C-USA Tournament champion, has clinched a first-round bye in the tournament, which begins March 6 in Memphis. Should they gain an NCAA Tournament bid, the Bearcats will play the first two rounds at the Shoemaker Center March 23 and 25.

XAVIER: The Musketeers' Atlantic-10 Tournament seeding will be determined Sunday when they host Dayton (14-12, 7-8) at 2 p.m.

Xavier (18-8, 10-5 A-10) enters the game in second in the conference's West Division. A win would clinch its No. 2 standing and earn a first-round bye in next week's tournament in Rhode Island. A loss - coupled with a Richmond win at No. 1 George Washington on Sunday - could drop XU to the No. 3 seed.

The Muskies will honor guards Reetta Piipari and Amy Waugh Sunday as part of Senior Day. Free admission will be granted to any fan bringing a non-perishable Kroger brand food item.

MIAMI: The RedHawks are chasing their first Mid-American Conference title since 1990, and Saturday's 2 p.m. game against Buffalo (16-9, 8-6) at Millett Hall will be pivotal. East Division leader Miami (15-10, 10-4 MAC) squeezed by the Bulls 50-45 on Jan. 25.

The RedHawks wrap up the regular season Tuesday, hosting Marshall at 7 p.m.
Women's weekend basketball
University of Cincinnati at Memphis (today) and at St. Louis (Sunday)
Miami vs. Buffalo
•When: 2 p.m. Saturday
•Where: Millett Hall, Oxford
•What: Parents' Night
•Admission: $5 Adults, $3 ages 6-18.
Xavier vs. Dayton
•When: 2 p.m. Sunday
•Where: Cintas Center
•What: Senior Day
•Admission: Free with non-perishable Kroger brand food item