Trojans set to play in national tournament March 16-21
- NIACC advances to national tournament for 1st time since 2020
- 20-team tournament will be held in Hickory, N.C.
- Pairings for national tournament will be announced March 10
HICKORY, N.C. - The NIACC women's basketball team will play in the NJCAA Division II national tournament March 16-21 at the Tarlton Complex on the Catawba Valley CC campus.
The 20-team tournament is set to start Monday, March 16 with six opening round games. Opening round games continue on Tuesday.
The top four seeds receive a first round bye.
The NJCAA will have a selection show at 4 p.m. on March 10 to announce the seedings and first round pairings for the national tournament.
Each team is guaranteed at least two games at the national tournament.
On Saturday, March 21, the fifth-place game is slated for noon with the third-place game taking place at 3 p.m. and the national title game starting at 6 p.m.
Ticket information: A daily session pass is $20 and kids 7 and under are admitted free. An all-tournament pass is $100.
Tickets can be purchased in advanced at https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/NJCAABasketballTournament
Fan parking: Free parking is available for fans throughout the Catawba Valley CC campus.
NJCAA Network: The entirety of the 2026 NJCAA Division II women's basketball championship will be broadcast live on the NJCAA Network and will be available to view on-demand at the conclusion of each contest.
The NJCAA Network is available through a variety of pay-per-view pricing options at https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index
Day pass: $12.
Tournament pass: $35.
All-access pass: $100 for all 2025-26 NJCAA Championship events. The all-access pass does not include any events that are on ESPNU or ESPN+.
How the Trojans arrived at nationals: NIACC (27-3) claimed the NJCAA Region 11-B title with a 69-55 victory over Northeast CC Monday night in the NIACC gym.
Sophomore guard Reggi Spotts, who was the regional tournament MVP, led the Trojans with 26 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in the title game. Freshman Zaria Falls and Ciara Seifert were also selected to the all-tournament team.
The Trojans topped Iowa Western 74-59 on Feb. 28 in their regional tournament opener.
With top-seed Kirkwood's loss to fifth-seed DMACC in the NJCAA Region 11-A title game on Monday in Cedar Rapids, the Trojans earned the region's automatic bid to the NJCAA Division II national tournament as the region's highest remaining seed.
National tournament history: This is the 11th time that the Trojans have qualified for the women's basketball national tournament. The Trojans also qualified in 2020, 2019, 2016, 2014, 1994, 1984, 1983, 1979, 1976 and 1975.
The last time the Trojans played in the national tournament was 2019. The Trojans qualified for the national tournament in 2020, but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
The Trojans' highest finish at the national tournament was second in 1975 when they dropped a 59-58 decision to Temple College (Texas) in the national title game,
The Trojans placed third in 2014, sixth in 1994 and seventh in 1976.
NIACC NATIONAL TOURNAMENT NOTES
Tournament apprearances - 11: 2026, 2020 (the Trojans qualified for the national tournament but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19), 2019, 2016, 2014, 1994, 1984, 1983, 1979, 1976, 1975.
Overall record - 13-14
Most points in single game - Cape Fear College 116, NIACC 105 (3-20-19)
Fewest points allowed in single game - 41 vs. Prince George's CC (1975)
Coaches records at nationals: Kelli Terrell (2014) 3-1; Todd Ciochetto (2016, 2019) 2-4; John Oertel (1994) 1-2; Gary Mekelburg (1983, 1984) 1-2; Marilyn Pearson (1979) 1-2; Curt Riedel (1975, 1976) 5-3.
