Northeast-10 Champion Falcons Selected to Host NCAA Div. II East Regional
WALTHAM, Mass. – For the 38th time in the program's storied history, the Bentley University women's basketball team will be competing in the NCAA Division II Championships. And for the first time since 2016, the Falcons have been selected to host the East Regional.
The East Regional will be held this coming weekend on the Dana Center's Barbara Stevens Court. There will be four quarterfinal games on Friday, two semifinals contests on Saturday and the regional championship game will be Monday, March 18.
After winning a third straight Northeast-10 Conference championship Sunday afternoon, coach C White's Falcons received the number one seed and will face eighth-seeded Mercy College on Friday.
In addition to Bentley, automatic berths went to Daemen College (East Coast) and Jefferson University (Central Atlantic). At-large selections went to four Northeast-10 programs (Assumption University, College of Saint Rose, Franklin Pierce University and Southern New Hampshire University). Combined, the eight teams are 178-53 this season.
In addition to Bentley-Mercy, the other quarterfinal pairings on Friday have fourth-seeded Jefferson facing fifth-seeded Southern New Hampshire, number two Assumption taking on seventh-seed Franklin Pierce and number three against sixth-seeded Daemen.
Bentley, which earned a share of the Northeast-10 regular season title before defeating American International, Franklin Pierce and Southern Connecticut during the conference championships. The Falcons have improved to 26-5 overall after winning their last five and were ranked 21st in the most recent WBCA Division II coaches poll.
No Division II team in the nation has competed in more NCAA championships, played in more NCAA games (104) or posted more wins (65).
The Elite Eight will be played in St. Joseph, Mo. from March 25-29.
NCAA DIVISION II EAST REGIONAL
At Bentley University, Waltham, Mass.
Quarterfinals – Friday, March 15
#1 Bentley (26-5) vs. #8 Mercy (20-9)
#4 Jefferson (30-1) vs. Southern New Hampshire (17-10)
#3 Saint Rose (21-6) vs. #6 Daemen (20-7)
#2 Assumption (24-5) vs. #7 Franklin Pierce (20-10)
Semifinals – Saturday, March 16
Bentley-Mercy winner vs. Jefferson-SNHU winner
Saint Rose-Daemen winner vs. Assumption-FPU winner
Championship – Monday, March 18