WBB: Saints Complete Undefeated Conference Season, Will Be Top Seed In 2026 Women's Basketball Tournament
WINTHROP, Mass. – Emmanuel completed a dominant undefeated season in conference play at 12-0 in the 2025-26 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season as the Saints locked up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.
Emmanuel (18-6 overall) will look to claim their first conference title since the 2021-22 season as they match-up with no. 8 seed New England College (6-6; 16-9 overall).
Earning the No. 2 seed in this year's bracket is Saint Joseph’s Maine, who put together a 10-2 GNAC (15-10 overall) season as the Monks look to avenge last year’s championship loss to the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), who coincidentally match-up in the first round in a championship rematch. The Blue Jays finished as the seven seed with a 6-6 conference record and 8-17 overall.
At the third seed is Regis College, who finished 9-3 in conference play and 12-13 overall, who will match-up against no. 6 seed Albertus Magnus as the Falcons finished 7-5 in GNAC play (8-17 overall).
The four/five match-up will feature no. 4 Norwich (8-4; 12-12 overall) and no. 5 Lasell (8-4; 19-6) as the Cadets won the head-to-head earlier in the season against the Lasers.
The league's tiebreaking procedure was also used to determine seeding for the 7/8 spot as USJ (Conn.) defeated New England College head-to-head in conference play this season.
Quarterfinals will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 25th after the initial start date was supposed to be Tuesday, Feb. 24th due to an impending blizzard forecasted throughout tonight heading into tomorrow.
The four quarterfinal winners will earn the right to compete in the GNAC Semifinals, which are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27. They will be competing for the opportunity to play in the GNAC Championship on Sunday, Mar. 1. The winner of the GNAC Championship game will be named the 2026 GNAC Women's Basketball Champion and earn the league's automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.
2026 GNAC Women's Basketball Tournament Schedule
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Feb. 25
(Hosted by higher seeds)
#1 Emmanuel vs. #8 New England College, 6 p.m.
#2 Saint Joseph’s (Maine) vs. #7 University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 5 pm
#3 Regis vs. #6 Albertus Magnus 6 p.m.
#4 Norwich vs. #5 Lasell, 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, Feb. 27
(Hosted by higher seeds)
Winner of #1/#8 vs. #4/5 Winner, TBD
Winner of #2/#7 vs. #3/6 Winner, TBD
Championship – Sunday, Mar. 1
Semifinal winners, TBD
ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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