AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament

The AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was a national tournament for women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States, held annually from 1972 to 1982.[1][2] The winners of the AIAW tournaments from 1972 to 1981 are recognized as the national champions for those years.[3][4][5][6]

AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament

Formerly	CIAW Tournament
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1972
Ceased	1982
Replaced by	NCAA Tournament
No. of teams	16 / 24
Country	United States
Most titles	Immaculata, Delta State (3 each)
TV partner(s)	NBC (championship game)

The AIAW tournament was discontinued after the NCAA began sponsoring a women's collegiate basketball tournament in 1982. (In 1982, both the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments.) The AIAW tournament was preceded by a tournament sponsored by the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), which was held from 1969 to 1971.[1]

Sixteen teams were invited to the tournament following qualifying rounds played on college campuses (except 24 teams were invited for the 1980 and 1981 tournaments). Ten of the sixteen teams were the winners of regional tournaments. The country had nine regions, but the Eastern regional was subdivided in a Region 1A and a Region 1B. The winners of those regional championships automatically proceeded to the National tournament, then a selection committee chose additional teams based upon considerations for individual team performance and geographical balance.[7] Beginning in 1975, the AIAW divided its teams into divisions, and held separate tournaments for Division II and Division III teams.

Women's AIAW Division I basketball champions

Year	Winner	Score	Opponent	Venue
1972	Immaculata	52–48	West Chester State	Normal, Illinois
1973	Immaculata	59–52	Queens College	Flushing, New York
1974	Immaculata	68–53	Mississippi College	Manhattan, Kansas
1975	Delta State	90–81	Immaculata	Harrisonburg, Virginia
1976	Delta State	69–64	Immaculata	State College, Pennsylvania
1977	Delta State	68–55	LSU	Minneapolis, Minnesota
1978	UCLA	90–74	Maryland	Los Angeles, California
1979	Old Dominion	75–65	Louisiana Tech	Greensboro, North Carolina
1980	Old Dominion	68–53	Tennessee	Mount Pleasant, Michigan
1981	Louisiana Tech	79–59	Tennessee	Eugene, Oregon
1982	Rutgers	83–77	Texas	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

AIAW semifinals by school

School	Number
Immaculata	6
Tennessee	4
Delta State, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, S. Connecticut St., Wayland Baptist	3
Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, William Penn	2
Indiana, LSU, Maryland, Mississippi College, Mississippi St. College for Women, Montclair State, Queens College, Rutgers, South Carolina, Southern California, Texas, Villanova, West Chester State	1

1972 tournament

The first AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 16–19, 1972. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Sixteen teams participated. Immaculata University, coached by Hall-of-Famer Cathy Rush, was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament.[1][8][9][10]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 16, 1972				Quarterfinals March 17, 1972				Semifinals March 18, 1972				Final March 19, 1972
	Immaculata	60
	South Dakota State	47
					Immaculata	49
					Indiana	46
	Indiana	49
	S. Connecticut State	30
									Immaculata	46
									Mississippi St. College for Women	43
	Mississippi St. College for Women	64
	Illinois State	47
					Mississippi St. College for Women	43
					Tennessee-Martin	25
	Tennessee-Martin	53
	Long Beach State	43
													Immaculata	52
													West Chester State	48
	West Chester State	79
	Utah State	45
					West Chester State	66
					Northern Illinois	54
	Northern Illinois	50
	Washington State	43
									West Chester State	62
									Cal State Fullerton	57			Third place
	Cal State Fullerton	65
	Tennessee Tech	56
					Cal State Fullerton	53							Mississippi St. College	42
					Phillips	38							Cal State Fullerton	52
	Phillips	54
	Queens College	43

*Losers in the First Round continued in the consolation bracket (below)

Consolation bracket

	First Round March 18, 1972					Second Round March 18, 1972					Fifth Place Game March 19, 1972
	South Dakota St.		34
	S. Connecticut St.		72
						S. Connecticut St.		42
						Long Beach State		48
	Illinois State		41
	Long Beach State		59
											Long Beach State		51
											Queens College		55
	Utah State		40
	Washington State		37
						Utah State		57
						Queens College		65
	Tennessee Tech		63
	Queens College		64

1973 tournament

The 1973 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 22–25, 1973. The host site was Queens College in Flushing, New York. Sixteen teams participated, and Immaculata University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament, for the second straight year.[1][9][11][12]

Immaculata finished the season undefeated (20–0), becoming the first undefeated national champion in women's college basketball.[13]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 22, 1973				Quarterfinals March 23, 1973				Semifinals March 24, 1973				Final March 25, 1973
	Immaculata	59
	Indiana State	48
					Immaculata	66
					Western Washington	53
	Western Washington	55
	East Carolina	51
									Immaculata	47
									S. Connecticut St.	45
	S. Connecticut St.	56
	Kansas State	52
					S. Connecticut St.	58
					Mercer	46
	Long Beach State	46
	Mercer	55
													Immaculata	59
													Queens College	52
	Indiana	46
	Lehman	43
					Indiana	56
					East Stroudsburg St.	52
	South Carolina	59
	East Stroudsburg St.	66
									Indiana	40
									Queens College	52			Third place
	Queens College	62
	UC Riverside	36
					Queens College	59†							S. Connecticut St.	76
					Stephen F. Austin	56							Indiana	53
	Stephen F. Austin	53
	Utah State	48

*Losers in the First Round continued in the consolation bracket (below) † Overtime

Consolation bracket

	First Round March 23, 1973					Second Round March 23, 1973					Fifth Place Game March 24, 1973
	Indiana State		49
	East Carolina		60
						East Carolina		46
						Kansas State		47
	Kansas State		49
	Long Beach State		43
											Kansas State		69
											South Carolina		57
	Lehman		53
	South Carolina		58
						South Carolina		49
						UC Riverside		36
	UC Riverside		47
	Utah State		41

1974 tournament

The 1974 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 20–23, 1974. The host site was Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Sixteen teams participated, and Immaculata University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament for the third straight year.[1][14][9][11]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 20, 1974				Quarterfinals* March 21, 1974				Semifinals March 22, 1974				Final March 23, 1974
	Immaculata	50
	Kansas State	40
					Immaculata	60
					Indiana	56
	Indiana	59
	Wayland Baptist	56
									Immaculata	57
									William Penn	55
	William Penn	54
	Utah State	34
					William Penn	52
					Stephen F. Austin	46
	Stephen F. Austin	55
	Illinois State	48
													Immaculata	68
													Mississippi College	53
	S. Connecticut St.	46
	East Stroudsburg St.	43
					S. Connecticut St.	55‡
					Cal State Fullerton	53
	Cal State Fullerton	58
	Western Washington	40
									S. Connecticut St.	63
									Mississippi College	67			Third place
	Mississippi College	65
	Tennessee Tech	63
					Mississippi College	71							William Penn	54
					Queens College	67							S. Connecticut St.	62
	Queens College	50
	Fresno State	36

*Losers in the First Round and Quarterfinals continued in the consolation bracket (below) ‡ Double-overtime

Consolation bracket

	First Round					Second Round					Third Round					Fifth Place Game
							Cal State Fullerton	39
							Wayland Baptist	54
		Kansas State	34
		Wayland Baptist	49
												Wayland Baptist	72
											Queens College	49
							Queens College	52
							Illinois State	48
		Utah State	46
		Illinois State	74
																	Wayland Baptist	56
																	Tennessee Tech	50
							Indiana	50
							Western Washington	44
		East Stroudsburg St.	59
		Western Washington	81
												Indiana	44
											Tennessee Tech	72
							Stephen F. Austin	43
							Tennessee Tech	63
		Tennessee Tech	53
		Fresno State	41

1975 Division I tournament

The 1975 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 19–22, 1975. The host site was James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Sixteen teams participated, and Delta State University, coached by Hall-of-Famer Margaret Wade, was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament.[1][14][11][15][16]

Delta State finished the season undefeated (28–0), becoming the second undefeated national champion.[17]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 19, 1975				Quarterfinals* March 20, 1975				Semifinals March 21, 1975				Final March 22, 1975
	Immaculata	63
	Kansas State	54
					Immaculata	68
					Wayland Baptist	58
	Wayland Baptist	93
	Boise State	37
									Immaculata	63
									Cal State Fullerton	54
	William Penn	43
	Cal State Fullerton	59
					Cal State Fullerton	64
					Queens College	58
	Queens College	83
	James Madison	50
													Immaculata	81
													Delta State	90
	Delta State	77†
	Federal City	75
					Delta State	88
					Tennessee Tech	66
	Tennessee Tech	91
	Utah State	45
									Delta State	71
									S. Connecticut St.	68			Third place
	S. Connecticut St.	68
	Stephen F. Austin	51
					S. Connecticut St.	73							Cal State Fullerton	63
					Ohio State	50							S. Connecticut St.	46
	Ohio State	72
	West Georgia	59

*Losers in the First Round and Quarterfinals continued in the consolation bracket (below) † Overtime

Consolation bracket

First Round March 20, 1975

Second Round March 20, 1975

Third Round March 21, 1975

Fifth Place Game March 22, 1975

Ohio State

51

Kansas State

61

Kansas State

65

Boise State

37

Kansas State

54

William Penn

43

Tennessee Tech

65

William Penn

67†

William Penn

76

James Madison

40

Kansas State

55

Wayland Baptist

63

Queens College

97

Federal City

99‡

Federal City

89

Utah State

34

Federal City

46

Wayland Baptist

67†

Wayland Baptist

50

Stephen F. Austin

46

Stephen F. Austin

82

West Georgia

62

† Overtime ‡ Double-overtime

1976 Division I tournament

The 1976 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 25–28, 1976. The host site was Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Sixteen teams participated, and Delta State University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament, for the second straight season.[1][14][16][18]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 25, 1976				Quarterfinals* March 26, 1976				Semifinals March 27, 1976				Final March 28, 1976
	Delta State	88
	Penn State	46
					Delta State	97
					Baylor	57
	S. Connecticut St.	72
	Baylor	76
									Delta State	61
									Wayland Baptist	60
	Wayland Baptist	85
	Utah	46
					Wayland Baptist	75
					Mississippi College	59
	Mississippi College	91
	Queens College	80
													Delta State	69
													Immaculata	64
	William Penn	78
	Tennessee Tech	70
					William Penn	64
					Cal State Fullerton	61
	Cal State Fullerton	103
	Wisconsin–La Crosse	85
									William Penn	52
									Immaculata	74			Third place
	Immaculata	84
	Long Beach State	65
					Immaculata	103							Wayland Baptist	74
					Montclair State	82							William Penn	54
	Montclair State	86
	Portland State	49

*Losers in the First Round and Quarterfinals continued in the consolation bracket (below)

Consolation bracket

	First Round					Second Round					Third Round					Fifth Place Game
							Cal State Fullerton	51
							S. Connecticut St.	61
		Penn State	51
		S. Connecticut St.	63
												S. Connecticut St.	56
											Montclair State	65
							Montclair State	98‡
							Queens College	93
		Utah	57
		Queens College	77
																	Montclair State	88
																	Tennessee Tech	94
							Baylor	78
							Tennessee Tech	89
		Tennessee Tech	116
		Wisconsin–La Crosse	78
												Tennessee Tech	111
											Mississippi College	93
							Mississippi College	95
							Long Beach State	81
		Long Beach State	74
		Portland State	54

‡ Double-overtime

1977 Division I tournament

The 1977 AIAW Women's Basketball Tournament was held on March 23–26, 1977. The host site was the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sixteen teams participated, and Delta State University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament for the third straight season.[1][14][11][16][19][20][21]

The 1976–1977 season also marked the release of the first AP Poll for women's basketball. Delta State finished first in the final poll, which was released prior to the 1977 AIAW Tournament.[22]

Main bracket

	First Round* March 23, 1977				Quarterfinals* March 24, 1977				Semifinals March 25, 1977				Final March 26, 1977
	Delta State	87
	Minnesota	42
					Delta State	75
					S. Connecticut St.	49
	S. Connecticut St.	80
	Missouri	64
									Delta State	62
									Tennessee	58
	Tennessee	76
	Michigan State	62
					Tennessee	81
					Kansas State	69
	Kansas State	70
	Utah	32
													Delta State	68
													LSU	55
	Immaculata	83
	Tennessee Tech	73
					Immaculata	100
					Mississippi College	78
	Mississippi College	97
	Cal State Fullerton	84
									Immaculata	68
									LSU	74			Third place
	LSU	91
	Western Washington	53
					LSU	71							Tennessee	91
					Baylor	64							Immaculata	71
	Saint Joseph's	75
	Baylor	85

*Losers in the First Round and Quarterfinals continued in the consolation bracket (below)

Consolation bracket

	First Round March 24, 1977					Second Round March 25, 1977					Third Round March 26, 1977					Fifth Place Game March 27, 1977
							Baylor	85
							Missouri	75
		Minnesota	39
		Missouri	60
												Baylor	77
											Utah	52
							Mississippi College	63
							Utah	83
		Michigan State	62
		Utah	63
																	Baylor	71
																	S. Connecticut St.	69
							Kansas State	58
							Tennessee Tech	68
		Tennessee Tech	70
		Cal State Fullerton	67
												Tennessee Tech	72
											S. Connecticut St.	85
							S. Connecticut St.	88
							Saint Joseph's	85
		Western Washington	51
		Saint Joseph's	97

1978 Division I tournament

Main article: 1978 AIAW National Large College Basketball Championship

1979 Division I tournament

Main article: 1979 AIAW National Large College Basketball Championship

1980 Division I tournament

Main article: 1980 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship

1981 Division I tournament

Main article: 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship

1982 Division I tournament

Main article: 1982 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship

See also

• Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
• AIAW Champions
• Major women's sport leagues in North America

References

1. Gregory Cooper. "Women's College Basketball Championship History Page". Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
2. "NCAA Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-05-24.
3. Litsky, Frank (March 12, 1995). "When Small Schools Ruled Women's Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
4. Amdur, Neil (April 7, 2002). "A Small College Link to Women's Game". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
5. "Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Historical Timeline". Archived from the original on 2009-06-21. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
6. "Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Cathy Rush Biography". Archived from the original on 2009-08-31. Retrieved 2009-07-20.
7. Hult, p. 288 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFHult (help)
8. "Current Affairs Guide". Archived from the original (pdf) on 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2019-12-30.
9. "Indiana Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-06-04.
10. "CNNSI Recap of 1972 Tournament". Retrieved 2009-07-28.
11. "Kansas State University Postseason History". Retrieved 2009-06-03.
12. "UC Riverside Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-06-04.
13. "CNNSI Recap of 1973 Tournament". Retrieved 2009-07-28.
14. "Tennessee Tech Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-06-04.
15. "James Madison Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
16. "Southern Conn. St. Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-07-10.
17. "CNNSI Recap of 1975 Tournament". Retrieved 2009-07-28.
18. McNichol, Tom (March 29, 1976). "AIAW Cage Champion Crowned. Macs Falter, Delta State No. 1". The Daily Collegian. p. 7. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved 2010-10-05.
19. "Utah Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-06-08.
20. "Missouri Media Guide" (pdf). Retrieved 2009-06-08.
21. "Tennessee Lady Vol Scores". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
22. "1977 Final AP Women's Basketball Poll". Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved 2009-07-10.

Sources

• Hult, Joan S.; Trekell, Marianna (1991). A Century of women's basketball : From Frailty to Final Four. Reston, Va: National Association for Girls and Women in Sport. ISBN 9780883144909.