NAIA Women's Basketball Championships
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 |
| No. of teams | 32 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Most recent champion(s) | DII Marian University (Indiana) |
| TV partner(s) | ESPN3 |
| Official website | http://www.naia.org/ |
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Women's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1981. The NAIA Women's Tournament was established one year before the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament. It was created to crown a women's national title for smaller colleges and universities. Since 1992, the NAIA has sponsored a women's division II championship tournament. Also the entire tournament is played in one city (Billings, Montana DI, and Sioux City, Iowa DII). Contracts for host city for both divisions expired in 2017, pending renewal, the 2018 tournaments will be in new cities.
Division I
The NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament is held at the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Montana and has been played there since in 2012.[1] The NAIA is the only international intercollegiate athletic association in North America, the NAIA DI Women's Basketball Championship, was the first NAIA Championship to feature a college from outside the United States in the championship game. Simon Fraser University was the national DI runner-up in 1996 and 1997. Oklahoma City University has the most tournament championships with 9, and most championship game appearances with 11.
| Year | Champion | Score | Defeated | Arena | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Kentucky State | 73-67 | Texas Southern | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1982 | Southwestern Oklahoma | 80-45 | Missouri Southern State | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1983 | Southwestern Oklahoma | 80-68 | Alabama-Huntsville | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1984 | North Carolina-Asheville | 72-70# | Portland (Ore.) | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | |
| 1985 | Southwestern Oklahoma | 55-54 | Saginaw Valley (Mich.) | Cedar Rapids, Iowa | |
| 1986 | Francis Marion (S.C.) | 75-65 | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1987 | Southwestern Oklahoma | 60-58 | North Georgia | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1988 | Oklahoma City | 113-95 | Claflin (S.C.) | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1989 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 98-96 | Claflin (S.C.) | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| 1990 | Southwestern Oklahoma | 82-75 | Arkansas-Monticello | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1991 | Fort Hays State (Kan.) | 57-53 | Southwestern Oklahoma | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1992 | Arkansas Tech | 84-68 | Wayland Baptist (Texas) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1993 | Arkansas Tech | 76-75 | Union (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1994 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 97-74 | David Lipscomb (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1995 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 78-77 | Southeastern Oklahoma | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1996 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 80-79 | Southeastern Oklahoma | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1997 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 78-73 | Union (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1998 | Union (Tenn.) | 73-70 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 1999 | Oklahoma City | 72-55 | Simon Fraser (B.C.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2000 | Oklahoma City | 64-55 | Simon Fraser (B.C.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2001 | Oklahoma City | 69-52 | Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2002 | Oklahoma City | 82-73 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2003 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 71-70 | Oklahoma City | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2004 | Southern Nazarene (Okla.) | 77-61 | Oklahoma City | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2005 | Union (Tenn.) | 67-63 | Oklahoma City | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2006 | Union (Tenn.) | 79-62 | Lubbock Christian (Texas) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2007 | Lambuth (Tenn.) | 63-50 | Cumberland (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2008 | Vanguard (Calif.) | 72-59 | Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2009 | Union (Tenn.) | 73-63 | Lambuth (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2010 | Union (Tenn.) | 73-65 | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2011 | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | 65-59 | Union (Tenn.) | Oman Arena | Jackson, Tennessee |
| 2012 | Oklahoma City | 69-48 | Union (Tenn.) | Frankfort Convention Center | Frankfort, Kentucky |
| 2013 | Wesmont (California) | 71-65 | Lee University (Tenn.) | Frankfort Convention Center | Frankfort, Kentucky |
| 2014 | Oklahoma City | 80-76 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | Frankfort Convention Center | Frankfort, Kentucky[2] |
| 2015 | Oklahoma City | 80–63 | Campbellsville (KY) | Independence Events Center | Independence, Missouri[3] |
| 2016 | MidAmerica Nazarene (KS) | 49–35 | Baker (KS) | Independence Events Center | Independence, Missouri[4] |
| 2017 | Oklahoma City | 73-66 | Lewis-Clark State | Rimrock Auto Arena | Billings, Montana |
| 2018 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Rimrock Auto Arena | Billings, Montana |
# Overtime
Division II
The NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament is held annually, currently at the Tyson Events Center and Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.[5] The NAIA and Sioux City have extended the contract until 2014.[6]Northwestern College has the most national titles with five. 2015 champion Morningside College has the second most national titles with three. Northwestern College has the most tournament championship game appearances with six.
| Year | Champion | Score | Defeated | Arena | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Northern State (S.D.) | 73-56 | Tarleton State (Texas) | New PE Building | Monmouth, Oregon |
| 1993 | Northern Montana | 71-68 | Northern State (S.D.) | New PE Building | Monmouth, Oregon |
| 1994 | Northern State (S.D.) | 48-45 | Western Oregon | New PE Building | Monmouth, Oregon |
| 1995 | Western Oregon | 75-67 | Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) | New PE Building | Monmouth, Oregon |
| 1996 | Western Oregon | 80-77 | Huron (S.D.) | Hershey Hall | Angola, Indiana |
| 1997 | Northwest Nazarene (Idaho) | 64-46 | Black Hills State (S.D.) | Hershey Hall | Angola, Indiana |
| 1998 | Walsh (Ohio) | 73-66 | Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 1999 | Shawnee State (Ohio) | 80-65 | St. Francis (Ind.) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2000 | Mary (N.D.) | 59-49 | Northwestern (Iowa) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2001 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 77-50 | Albertson (Idaho) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2002 | Hastings (Neb.) | 73-69 | Cornerstone (Mich.) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2003 | Hastings (Neb.) | 59-53 | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) | Sioux City Auditorium | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2004 | Morningside (Iowa) | 87-74 | Cedarville (Ohio) | Tyson Events Center & Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2005 | Morningside (Iowa) | 75-65 | Cedarville (Ohio) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2006 | Hastings (Neb.) | 58-39 | Ozarks (Mo.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2007 | Indiana Wesleyan* | 48-34 | Ozarks (Mo.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2008 | Northwestern College (Iowa) | 82-75 | Ozarks( Mo.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2009 | Morningside (Iowa)* | 68-62 | Hastings (Neb.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2010 | Northwestern College (Iowa) | 85-66 | Shawnee State (Ohio) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2011 | Northwestern College (Iowa) | 88-83 | Davenport (Mich.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2012 | Northwestern College (Iowa) | 75-62 | Ozarks (Mo.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2013 | Indiana Wesleyan | 61-43 | Davenport (MI) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2014 | Saint Francis (Ind.)* | 75-68 | Ozarks (Mo.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa[7] |
| 2015 | Morningside (Iowa) | 59–57 | Concordia (Neb.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa[8] |
| 2016 | Marian (Indiana) | 59–48 | Southern Oregon | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa[9] |
| 2017 | Marian (Indiana) | 66-52 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
| 2018 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena | Sioux City, Iowa |
* Season record of 38-0; Only 3 teams have done this in NAIA Women's Basketball history.
References
- ↑ NAIA Women's DI History
- ↑ "Oklahoma City Wins Seventh NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship". NAIA. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ↑ "Oklahoma City Wins Back-to-Back Titles". NAIA. March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ↑ "MidAmerica Nazarene wins its first ever National Championship". NAIA. March 22, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ↑ NAIA Women's DII History
- ↑ NAIA and Sioux City extended tournament contract
- ↑ Smith, Ben (19 March 2014). "Saint Francis Cougars finish unbeaten, win 1st NAIA Division II title". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
- ↑ "Driven Mustangs Will Their Way to National Title, 59-57, Over Concordia". NAIA. March 17, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
- ↑ "Marian (Ind.) wins first ever national championship". NAIA. March 15, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
See also
- NAIA Men's Basketball Championships
- NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
- NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship
- NCAA Women's Division III Basketball Championship
- Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Basketball Championship