Southern Connecticut women's basketball will face no. 1 seed Bentley University for the 2026 Northeast 10 Conference Championship, presented by Visit Central Florida, at 1:00 pm on Sunday, March 8 in Waltham, Massachusetts. The Owls advanced to the NE10 Championship after defeating Southern New Hampshire in the NE10 Semifinals, 71-54 on Thursday, March 5. It is the second time in three seasons that Southern Connecticut has been in the NE10 Championship.

TICKET PRICES:

• Adults: $10
• Youth (under 18/Seniors: $5
• NE10 students will be admitted free of charge, with ID

There will be a Student Fan Bus Available for the NE10 Championship Game, as more information can be found HERE.

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME
SCSU fans who can't make it to the Dana Center in Waltham, Massachusetts, on Sunday, March 8 can follow the Owls' NE10 Championship matchup against Bentley, by watching the game live on SNY or NBC Sports Philadelphia+,  FloCollege or via Live Stats provided by Bentley Athletics.
 
With the win against Southern New Hampshire, the Owls improved to 23-5 and advanced to the NE10 Championship for the second time in three seasons and fifth time overall. The Owls' 23 wins are the most wins recorded since the 2011-12 season that saw Southern win 25 games. Against the Penmen, Hope Fox turned in an all-time performance in what would likely be her final game at James Moore Field House. The fourth-year All-NE10 pick finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals and three blocks. NE10 Rookie of the Year Tish Blackwood had 16 points and eight rebounds despite playing just 26 minutes due to foul trouble and Ally Sentance came off the bench to scorch SNHU for 18 points after knocking down a game-high four three-pointers.
 
 
The Owls' Road to the Championship:
SCSU Women's Basketball Defeats Adelphi to Advance to NE10 Championship Semifinals
 
Title Shot: SCSU Women's Basketball Defeats SNHU; Advances to NE10 Championship Game
 

History of the Owls in the NE10 Championship Tournament:

• Southern Connecticut improved to 24-18 all-time in the NE10 Tournament with wins against Adelphi and Southern New Hampshire.
• This is the Owls' fifth trip to the NE10 Championship Game. They previously won the conference title in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

 
NE10 Championship Preview:

• The Owls return to the NE10 Championship Final for the fifth time overall and have a 2-2 record. It is their first trip to the title game since 2024.
• In all of Division II, Southern is ranked sixth in assist/turnover ratio with a ratio of 1.28 and is ranked sixth in DII in assists with an average of 17.9 assists per game.
• Southern Connecticut is also ranked second in the NCAA East Region Rankings, which is the highest NCAA Regional Ranking they have had since the 2011-12 season. 
• This season, the Owls and Falcons have a 1-1 record, as Bentley defeated Southern in Waltham on Jan. 4, 75-62. On Jan. 31, with both teams on an 11-game win streak, the Owls defeated the Falcons, 57-39 in the James Moore Field House.
• On Jan. 31, Rheyna Steinauer recorded 21 points, with a team-best of three, three pointers, eight boards and three assists. Tish Blackwood had 18 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, had three assists and three blocks.
• Taeya Steinauer had eight points, seven bounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals. Jillian Martin had seven points and four assists in the victory over the Falcons.
• The Owls last win against the Falcons in the Dana Center, was on Jan. 28, 2012, with a victory scoreline of 63-59.
• Southern and Bentley have faced each other seven times in the NE10 Tournament, with the Falcons winning six of those matchups.
• The 2026 NE10 Championship will be the third meeting between the Owls and the Falcons in the Championship game. Southern fell to Bentley, 79-52 in the 2012 title game and the Owls fell to the Falcons, 64-49 in the 2024 title game.
• Southern Connecticut and Bentley tied for the most selections for All-Conference and All-Defensive teams with five.
• Tish Blackwood was named NE10 Rookie of the Year, as she became the third Owl in program history to be named Rookie of the Year and first since Jackie Bethea earned the honor in the 2011-12 season. She was also named to the All-NE10 Second Team and the All-Rookie Team.
• Rheyna Steinauer was named to the All-NE10 First Team, for the first All-Conference honor of her career.
• Hope Fox and Jillian Martin were named to the All-NE10 Third Team. Fox was also named to the All-Defensive Team, becoming the first player in program history to be named to the All-Defensive Team.