GORHAM, Maine - For the first time since 2013, and for the 27
th time in program history the University of Southern Maine women's basketball team is headed to the NCAA Division III Natoinal Championship Tournament. The Huskies (25-2, 15-1 Little East Conference) claimed the Little East Conference's automatic bid to tournament after a 71-54 win over Rhode Island College (21-6) in the 2026 Little East Conference Championship game. The 2026 LEC Regular Season Champions, the Huskies earned a quarterfinal bye as the number one seed and defeated defending conference champion UMass Dartmouth 80-57 in the semifinal round.
Making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in nearly 15 years, Southern Maine will face Johnson & Wales University (RI) in the first round on Friday, March 15 (5:15 pm) at Bowdoin College's Morrell Gymnasium in Brunswick, Maine. Chosen as one of the first and second round site hosts, the nationally-ranked Polar Bears earned an at-large big in the tourney and will face Emmanuel College at 7:45 pm on Friday. Advancing teams from each first-round game will face each other on Saturday, March 7 at 7:45 pm.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, March 3 at 3 pm. Tickets will cost $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+) and students (all mandated NCAA pricing). One ticket is valid for both games.
2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament
Huskies vs. Johnson & Wales University | Friday, March 6 | 5:15 PM
at Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) | Morrell Gymnasium
Who: - Johnson and Wales University (RI) – 22-4, Conference of New England Champions
When: Friday, March 6 at 5:15 PM
Where: Bowdoin College | Brunswick, Maine | Morell Gymansium
Southern Maine Team Info:
Record: 25-2 (15-1 Little East) 2026 Little East Regular Season & Tournament Champion
Head Coach:
David Chadbourne, Third Season (56-25)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 27
th (Last 2013)
All-Time Record in NCAA Tournament Play: 44-24
Huskies to Watch:
Jaycie Christopher, Sr., Guard, 19.4 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.6 apg, 1.1 spg;
Lucy Wiles, So., Guard, 17.4 ppg, 3.0 apg, 1.9 spg, 2.7 rpg;
Dakota Shipley, So., Forward, 11.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.7 bpg;
Liz Cote, Gr., Guard, 7.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.1 apg;
Avah Ingalls, Sr., Forward, 7.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg, 1.4 spg.
2026 Tournament Format and Dates
First/second rounds: Friday-Saturday, March 6-7
Sectional rounds: Friday-Saturday, March 13-14
National Semifinals: Thursday, March 19 at Salem, Va.
National championship: Saturday, March 21 at Salem, Va.
-cac-
