1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament

The 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament was the 15th annual tournament hosted by the NCAA to determine the national champion of Division II women's collegiate basketball in the United States.^[1]

1996 NCAA Division II
women's basketball tournament

Teams	48
Finals site	Fargo, North Dakota
Champions	North Dakota State Bison (5th title)
Runner-up	Shippensburg Raiders (1st title game)
Third place	Abilene Christian Wildcats (1st Final Four)
Fourth place	Delta State Lady Statesmen (7th Final Four)
Winning coach	Amy Ruley (5th title)
MOP	Kasey Morlock (North Dakota State)
NCAA Division II women's tournaments «1995 1997»

Three-time defending champions North Dakota State defeated Shippensburg in the championship game, 104–78, to claim the Bison's fifth NCAA Division II national title. This was North Dakota State's fifth title in six years and fourth of four consecutive titles for the Bison.

The championship rounds were contested in Fargo, North Dakota.

Regionals

East - Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Location: Heiges Field House Host: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Shippensburg	87
							Pitt Johnstown	77
		Kutztown	52
		Pitt Johnstown	63
											1	Shippensburg	79
											3	Salem-Teikyo	68
	6	Longwood	55
	3	Salem-Teikyo	86
						3	Salem-Teikyo	65
						2	Slippery Rock	62

Great Lakes - Louisville, Kentucky

Location: Knights Hall Host: Bellarmine College

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Bellarmine	89
						5	Southern Indiana	80
	4	Oakland	83
	5	Southern Indiana	84
											1	Bellarmine	55
											2	Northern Michigan	84
	3	IPFW	71
	6	Lake Superior State	79
						6	Lake Superior State	53
						2	Northern Michigan	64

North Central - Fargo, North Dakota

Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						2	South Dakota State	55
						3	North Dakota	68
	6	Metro State	47
	3	North Dakota	71
											3	North Dakota	77
											1	North Dakota State	89
	4	Minnesota Duluth	65
	5	Northern Colorado	60
						4	Minnesota Duluth	52
						1	North Dakota State	72

Northeast - Waltham, Massachusetts

Location: Dana Center Host: Bentley College

	First round Round of 48 March 8					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 10
						2	Stonehill	60
						3	Saint Rose	68
	6	American International	61
	3	Saint Rose	77
											3	Saint Rose	58
											1	Bentley	63
	4	Bridgeport	82
	5	Bryant	79
						4	Bridgeport	71
						1	Bentley	87

South - Cleveland, Mississippi

Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum Host: Delta State University

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						2	Florida Southern	97
							Central Arkansas	93
		Central Arkansas	68
		Fort Valley State	55
											2	Florida Southern	78
											1	Delta State	96
		Albany State	63
		Rollins	62
							Albany State	67
						1	Delta State	99

South Atlantic - Wingate, North Carolina

Location: Cuddy Arena Host: Wingate College

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Shaw	61
						4	Bowie State	70
	4	Bowie State	74
	5	Georgia College	59
											4	Bowie State	56
											3	Wingate	85
	6	Gardner–Webb	78
	3	Wingate	84
						3	Wingate	66
						2	Mars Hall	56

South Central - Abilene, Texas

Location: Moody Coliseum Host: Abilene Christian University

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						1	Abilene Christian	81
						4	Nebraska–Kearney	58
	5	Missouri–Rolla	60
	4	Nebraska–Kearney	83
											1	Abilene Christian	66
											3	West Texas A&M	39
	6	Southwest Baptist	62
	3	West Texas A&M	64
						3	West Texas A&M	71
						2	Missouri Southern	59

West - Davis, California

Location: Recreation Hall Host: University of California, Davis

	First round Round of 48 March 7					Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8					Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9
						2	UC Davis	80
						3	Chico State	52
	6	UC Riverside	59
	3	Chico State	68
											2	UC Davis	66
											1	Portland State	70
	5	Cal State Dominguez Hills	57
	4	Montana State Billings	67
						4	Montana State Billings	73
						1	Portland State	83

Elite Eight - Fargo, North Dakota

Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University

	National quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20				National semifinals Final Four March 21				National championship Third Place Game March 23
	Shippensburg	78
	Wingate	64
					Shippensburg	84
					Abilene Christian	81
	Abilene Christian	81
	Northern Michigan	76
									Shippensburg	78
									North Dakota State	104
	Delta State	86
	Bentley	69
					Delta State	72			Third Place Game
					North Dakota State	93
	North Dakota State	91
	Portland State	65

All-tournament team

• Kasey Morlock, North Dakota State
• Lori Roufs, North Dakota State
• Jenni Rademacher, North Dakota State
• Jennifer Clarkson, Abilene Christian
• Caroline Omamo, Abilene Christian

See also

• 1996 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
• 1996 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament

References

• 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament jonfmorse.com

1. "Division II Women's Basketball Championship Results" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. Retrieved February 23, 2021.