A Southeastern Conference - Big 12 showdown will take place Sunday, when four Top 15 teams face-off for the 15th Annual State Farm Women's Tip-Off Classic at the United Spirit Arena.

Jack North, executive vice president of financial services for State Farm, said the event showcases a possible Final Four preview every year for women's basketball, and this year is nothing short of that.

He said the event has been part of an overall women's support strategy the company started back in the early '90s. State Farm representatives said it will continue to be a sponsor for women's sports throughout the season, including the presentation of the State Farm Wade Trophy, which is given to the nation's top women's basketball player every year.

"From the front end to the back end of women's basketball, State Farm is a major presence," he said. "We're going to have four great teams and four terrific coaches this weekend and we're happy to be involved with this prestigious event."

Lubbock was chosen based on venues supportive of women's sports and the attention it draws. Texas Tech was third in the nation for the 2004-05 season in its average attendance for Lady Raider basketball. In 16 games, Tech had a total of 201,621 fans last year, according to Tech media relations, with an average of 12,601 at each game.

Coach Marsha Sharp said it means a great deal for Tech to host the event this year and there should be a tremendous atmosphere for the two games on Sunday.

"I think because it is the premiere event and the way women's basketball starts the season, it's so great for us to be involved in the perspective of hosting it," she said.

Sharp said it is a little different in preparing for the opening game than in recent years because Tech will be facing such a strong team like LSU.

The No. 3-ranked Tigers will take the court against the No. 13 Lady Raiders Sunday, as Tech will be trying to keep its home-opening record intact under Sharp. Tech has only lost one home opener since Sharp's first year in West Texas.

Summer teammates Erin Grant and LSU's Seimone Augustus will be reunited on the court at the USA when they face each other as competitors instead of friends. The two Wade Trophy finalists spent the summer playing on the U.S. Women's World University Team in Turkey, where they won a gold medal together.

Grant said she is excited to play against Augustus and learned a great deal from her this summer while they were competing together.

"It was really exciting to play with a talented group of athletes, like Seimone, under one roof," she said.

National champion No. 7 Baylor will begin its title defense against coach Andy Landers' No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in the first of Sunday's double-header. Baylor coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson said she is excited about the matchup because of the lessons her team took from last year's classic.

"I think we will learn a lot about our team again this year," she said.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame will make the 2006 class announcement during the halftime of one of the two games. Several former players and coaches will be announced for this year's class, including Connecticut women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma.

Connecticut would join Tech as the two schools to have active men's and women's basketball coaches in their respective hall of fames.