FERRUM, Va. – The 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship bracket has been announced and Ferrum College will compete as the No. 11 seed in the 12-team tournament starting Sunday, March 1.

Ferrum win face No. 8 UNC Pembroke Sunday March 1 at 5:00 p.m. in a three-team pod, hosted by No. 5 seed Lees-McRae. The winner of that game will face host Lees-McRae Monday, March 2, at 5:00 p.m. The Panthers closed out regular season play February 25 with a home loss to Mount Olive and bring a 9-19 overall and 7-13 league mark into the tournament. 

IMPORTANT STREAMING INFO. FOR FANS
Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network powered by Hudl at ConferenceCarolinas.com/watch. Fans will need to purchase an all-tournament pass for $25 or a daily pass for $10.

Francis Marion University (19-9, 16-4) earned the top seed for the second straight year while Barton College (19-9, 15-5) earned the second seed. Both teams will have a bye to the semifinals on Saturday, March 7. The Patriots won the East Division title and grabbed the top seed with a KPI of .189 while the Bulldogs  finished tied for second in the East Division and own a KPI of .168. Belmont Abbey College (21-6, 16-4) earned a bye to the quarterfinals on Friday, March 6. The Crusaders won the Northwest Division and grabbed the third seed with a KPI of .153.

All KPI comparisons within .002 are considered ties for the purpose of seeding and the conference's tiebreakers are used to resolve those comparisons. Chowan and Young Harris ended tied with a KPI of .129 with Chowan winning the tiebreaker based on the Hawks win over the Mountain Lions.

The three first and second-round winners will advance to the quarterfinals that will be held at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Friday, March 6. The semifinals and final follow on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday March 8 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

The Conference Carolinas Tournament champion will earn the league's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Div. II Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament, to be held in March.

____________________________________

2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Basketball Championship
TOURNAMENT PAGE | BRACKET | LIVE VIDEO | FINAL SITE TICKETS

First Round – Sunday, March 1 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
No. 9 King vs. No. 10 Emmanuel (at No. 4 Shorter), 5:00 p.m.
No. 8 UNC Pembroke vs. No. 11 Ferrum (at No. 5 Lees-McRae), 5:00 p.m.
No. 7 Young Harris vs. No. 12 Mount Olive, (at No. 6 Chowan), 5:00 p.m.

Second Round – Monday, March 2 at No. 4-5-6 Seeds
Winner of No. 9-No. 10 at No. 4 Shorter, 5:00 p.m.
Winner of No. 8-No. 11 at No. 5 Lees-McRae, 5:00 p.m.
Winner of No. 7-No. 12 at No. 6 Chowan, 5:00 p.m.

Quarterfinals – Friday, March 6 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 5-8-11 vs. Winner 4-9-10, 6:00 p.m.
Winner of 6-7-12 vs. No. 3 Belmont Abbey, 8:30 p.m.

Semifinals – Saturday, March 7 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of 4-5-8-9-10-11 vs. No. 1 Francis Marion, 5:15 p.m.
Winner of 3-6-7-12 vs. No. 2 Barton, 7:30 p.m.

Final – Sunday, March 8 (at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium – Spartanburg, S.C.)
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2, 4:00 p.m.