Harding Bisons Women Host First Round of D-II Big Dance

Arkansas Tech and Harding Men’s Team Also Represent in Tourney

The Great American Conference placed two women’s basketball teams – regular-season champion Harding Bisons and tournament champion Southwestern Oklahoma State – in the eight-team Central Region field. The Lady Bisons will host the event, that begins Friday, at Rhodes Fieldhouse.

The Harding Bisons, the No. 2 seed, will face No. 7 Concordia-St. Paul in this, Harding’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament. Southwestern Oklahoma State, in its second-straight NCAA Tournament, earned the eighth seed and will take on No. 1 Emporia State.

This year marks the second-straight year that the GAC has placed two women’s basketball teams in the field of 64. Arkansas Tech joined SWOSU in the tournament after winning both the regular season and tournament titles last year.

Women’s Central Region NCAA Division-II Tournament Schedule

Friday, March 14
#1 Emporia State vs. #8 Southwestern Oklahoma
#4 Wayne State vs. #5 Pittsburg State
#3 Central Missouri vs. #6 Northern State
#2 Harding vs. #7 Concordia-St. Paul

Semifinals – Saturday, March 15 
ESU/SWOSU vs. WSC/PSU
HU/CSP vs. UCM/NSU

Championship – Monday, March 17

Women’s Central Region NCAA Tournament Bracket

For the second-straight year, the Great American Conference will send two men’s basketball teams to the NCAA Tournament, and for the second year in a row, Arkansas Tech and Harding will represent the GAC. Both will head to Mankato, Minn. for the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.

Harding punched its ticket by winning the GAC Tournament on Sunday in thrilling fashion, a 93-86 double overtime win against Henderson State. Arkansas Tech, the league’s regular-season champion, earned its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament bid.

Men’s Central Region NCAA Division-II Tournament Schedule

Saturday, March 15

#3 Missouri Southern State vs. #6 Fort Hays State, Noon
#2 Central Missouri vs. #7 Arkansas Tech, 2:30 p.m.
#1 Minnesota St.-Mankato vs. #8 Harding, 5 p.m.
#5 Northwestern Missouri State vs. #4 Winona State, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 16 
MSSU/FHSU vs UCM/ATU
MSU/HU vs NWMSU/WSU

Tuesday, March 18
Region Championship

Men’s Central Region NCAA Tournament Bracket