KNOXVILLE, Tenn.(UT Sports.com) - The University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball team (24-8 overall) learned on Monday night it was awarded a No. 2 seed in the Des Moines Region in the 2012 NCAA Championships and would be facing sister school Tennessee-Martin in first round action in Chicago, Ill., at 4:10 p.m. ET (ESPN2) on Sat., Mar. 17.

"We are excited to be playing UT Martin," said Lady Vol head coach Pat Summitt. "I know they were happy to be playing in the tournament again after winning their conference championship. We look forward to our match-up."

Tennessee, an automatic qualifier by virtue of winning the 2012 SEC Tournament Championship, earned a spot in a record 31st NCAA tournament. UT is the only school to be invited to every NCAA Championship since 1982.

No.15 seeded UT Martin, Summitt's alma mater (Class of 1974), earned its second consecutive appearance in the "Big Dance" as the automatic qualifier from the Ohio Valley Conference.

Also joining the UT's in Chicago at the Allstate Arena are host and No. 7 seed at-large selection DePaul (22-10) and No. 10 seed and West Coast Conference Champion BYU (26-6).

The Lady Vols have been awarded four previous No. 2 seeds - 2006 (Cleveland Region), 2002 (Midwest Region), 1987 (Mideast Region) and 1982 (Mideast Region).