It’s that time of year when some Division I women’s basketball teams are licking their wounds and clearing out their lockers, while others are packing their bags for their next great adventure. As postseason action kicks off, there are teams from New York and New Jersey eager to see more action.
First up, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament. For its 37th NCAA Tournament appearance, the University of Connecticut, the only Division I team undefeated this year, has the overall Number 1 seed. Two teams from New Jersey are heading to the Big Dance. This is nothing new for Princeton University, which made its way back to the top of the Ivy League, earning this spot by winning both the regular season and the Ivy League Tournament. First up for the Tigers, the Number 9 seed in Regional 2, is Oklahoma State University, the Number 8 seed.
It’s back-to-back trips to the Tournament for Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). The team’s victory at the NEC Championship capped off two undefeated conference seasons and 40 straight NEC wins. Junior forward Rebecca Osei-Owusu is a Brooklyn native and alumna of the Riverside Hawks. FDU, the 15th seed in Regional 4, takes on Number 2 seed University of Iowa.
There are two HBCU teams heading to the NCAA Tournament. Howard University, winner of the MEAC tournament (Howard swept the MEAC with the men’s team also earning an NCAA Tournament berth), has one player from Brooklyn, one from the Bronx and three from New Jersey. The Bison, with the 14th seed in Regional 1, take on 3 seed Ohio State University. Southern University won the SWAC Tournament. The Jaguars play Samford University today in the First Four to earn the Number 16 seed in Regional 4, which will play the region’s Number 1 seed University of South Carolina.
Several local teams are in the 32-team field of the WBIT, which the NCAA produces. Play begins today as Columbia University takes on St. John’s University, while Seton Hall University takes on the University of Missouri.
Army (West Point), Monmouth University and NJIT are playing in the 48-team WNIT with action kicking off today.
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