INDIANAPOLIS – In the first batch of region rankings compiled by the NCAA, Carson-Newman was listed as one of the eight teams to be considered for the six slots in the upcoming 2021 NCAA Women's Basketball Championships announced on Wednesday.
Per the release, "due to the disparity of games played this season and the limited data available, the schools below are listed as 'under consideration' for championship selection in alphabetical order for this regional ranking". This will be the case in the first two renditions before the final batch is announced on March 3.
Carson-Newman is the host site and institution for the regional with opening round games being played on Friday, March 12, followed by the semifinals Saturday, March 13, and the regional championship Monday, March 15. Winners will advance to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio, on March 23-26.
The official NCAA selection show is scheduled for March 7 at 10 p.m. where the field and seeds will be announced on NCAA.com.
This year's field has been condensed to 48 teams and the region is adjusted to accommodate equal participation numbers across the eight regions meaning the Peach Belt will participate in the South and the Southeast region is adding the SIAC.
The selection committee uses these rankings as a guideline to make up the NCAA Tournament field. The top six teams in the region make the NCAA Tournament with three automatic bids going to the winners of the conference tournaments from the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Coach Mike Mincey's team has three wins against the eight being considered with road wins against fellow SAC schools Catawba, Tusculum and UVA Wise. C-N does not have a game scheduled in the regular season against that trio.
Conference Carolinas has three teams listed in the eight with Barton, Belmont Abbey and Emmanuel while Benedict is the only team from the SIAC going 7-0 to begin the year but do not have a win over a team with a winning record.
Based on the performance indicator, the Lady Eagles are fifth but they are the only team to be undefeated against teams with a .500 record. Only Belmont Abbey has more wins against teams with winning records going 9-2. Barton is 5-1, Catawba is 1-2, Emmanuel is 5-3, Tusculum is 3-2 and UVA Wise is 0-3 against teams with winning records.
The Lady Eagles are back in action on Thursday when Mars Hill is slated to visit Mossy Creek for a 5:30 p.m. opening tap from Holt Fieldhouse in the second to last home game of the year for the club. Air time on the Eagle Sports Network is 5:15 with "The AEC Countdown to Tip-Off" by visiting cneagles.com/live for audio and video streams.
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