Categories: College University Athletics

Francis Marion Women’s Basketball Team Secures NCAA Tournament Spot

Francis Marion women's basketball team celebrates their invitation to the NCAA tournament.

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News Summary

The Francis Marion University women’s basketball team has clinched an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament as the fourth seed in the Southeast Regional. Under coach Jeri Porter, the team concluded the season with a 23-6 record and shared the East Division title. Their first match will be against Columbus State University, as they aim to make a significant impact in the tournament following their first appearance since 2016.

Florence, SC – The Francis Marion University women’s basketball team has received an at-large invitation to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, securing the fourth seed in the Southeast Regional. The tournament is set to take place from March 14 to March 17, 2024, in Dahlonega, Georgia, at the Lynn Cottrell Arena, which is hosted by the University of North Georgia.

The NCAA tournament field comprises 64 teams, comprised of 23 automatic qualifiers and 41 at-large selections. The winners of each regional will progress to the Women’s Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, scheduled for March 24-28.

Francis Marion, under the guidance of 10th-year head coach Jeri Porter, finished the season with an overall record of 23 wins and 6 losses. The team shared the East Division title in Conference Carolinas and was the top seed in the conference tournament, though they were narrowly defeated in the title game by a single point.

The Patriots are set to compete against the fifth seed, Columbus State University, which holds a 20-8 record. Their matchup will take place on March 14, with the time yet to be determined. Earlier in the season, Francis Marion came out victorious against Columbus State, achieving a score of 77-75 in November during a home game in Florence.

This appearance marks Francis Marion’s first tournament qualification since 2016. That year, the team reached the regional championship and advanced to the Elite Eight, highlighting a period of success for the basketball program. Since gaining NCAA affiliation in 1992, Francis Marion has made 11 tournament appearances, with their most notable stretch occurring from 1997 to 2001 when they received invitations for five consecutive years. During that era, the team achieved the Sweet Sixteen four times and advanced to the Final Four in 1998.

In addition to FMU and Columbus State, the Southeast Regional features several other competitive teams: the No. 1 seed North Georgia with a record of 29-2, No. 2 seed Coker University at 26-5, No. 3 seed Anderson University with a record of 24-9, No. 6 seed Carson-Newman University at 22-8, No. 7 seed Belmont Abbey College with a record of 25-5, and No. 8 seed UNC Pembroke at 22-8.

The first round of the tournament will take place on March 14, with four games on the schedule. Semifinal matches are set for March 15, followed by the championship game on March 17. If Francis Marion wins their opening game against Columbus State, they will face the winner of the match between North Georgia and UNC Pembroke in the semifinals on March 15.

With a strong season behind them, the Francis Marion University women’s basketball team is looking forward to competing in the upcoming NCAA Division II National Tournament, aiming to make a deep run in this prestigious event.