UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women’s lacrosse team will make its 22nd NCAA Tournament appearance when it faces Winthrop Friday in Gainesville, Florida. The Penn State-Winthrop winner will face second-seeded Florida on Sunday.

Penn State (11-6) is making its fifth straight NCAA appearance when it faces the Winthrop Eagles (20-2), the Big South champions. The Nittany Lions earn their bid as an at-large team and have now made at least five straight tournaments for the first time since 1993, which was the last in 11 straight appearances.

The Nittany Lions and Eagles have never faced off in women’s lacrosse as Winthrop makes its second straight showing. The Eagles and Nittany Lions were in the same pod last season in Charlottesville. Winthrop is in its fourth year as a varsity women’s lacrosse program.

The winner of Penn State and Winthrop will play No. 2 Florida, the Big East champions, on Sunday. Penn State and Florida were members of the ALC and have met seven times before with the Gators holding a 6-1 advantage. Penn State has visited Gainesville four times since 2010.