AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College has been selected as one of six predetermined sites that will host the regional portions of the 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. The announcement of regional sites was made today by the NCAA Division II Championships Committee.
The NCAA Division II East Regional will feature six competing teams, all of which will be announced in a selection show on NCAA.com next month. The tournament will get underway at Lumsden Gymnasium with two regional quarterfinal games Friday, March 12, followed by the regional semifinals Saturday, March 15. The regional champion will be crowned Monday, March 15 with the winner advancing to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio, from March 23-26.
The procedure for selecting regional host sites differed from the norm due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Normally, regional host sites would not be announced until the participating teams are selected. In consideration of health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19, the NCAA has elected to announced predetermined sites today.
"On behalf of Division II women's basketball, we are excited for the upcoming championship and thankful to the hosts of this year's predetermined sites," said Lori Hopkins, chair of the Division II Women's Basketball Committee and deputy athletics director at Northwest Missouri State.
"Though we are doing things a little different this year, I have no doubt the quality and excellence of the championship will remain the same for all the participants. A great student-athlete experience is one of our highest priorities, and making sure it is safe and secure for all will go a long way in making this year's championship memorable for all involved."
This will be the second NCAA Division II East Regional and the first in the sport of basketball to be hosted at Lumsden Gymnasium since Daemen earned full NCAA membership status in 2015. Daemen previously hosted the 2016 NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball East Regional.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to host this NCAA Championship event and we thank the committee for their diligence in selecting each of the predetermined regional sites," said Traci Murphy, Daemen director of athletics. "Now that the bid has been awarded, the work on our end really begins. I'm confident that despite the challenges of the pandemic, we'll be able to provide a great experience for the participating student-athletes and coaches."
Additional information including the status of game spectators, start times and live stream links will be announced in the coming weeks.
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
Support Daemen College's return to intercollegiate athletic competitions by making a contribution to the Game On Campaign and the Daemen Wildcats Gotta Play Fund. This comprehensive fundraising campaign was established to help offset the loss of valuable external revenue streams that directly support Daemen's 17 varsity teams. To learn more, visit daemenwildcats.com/gameon.
