NJCAA Women's Basketball: Top Seeds Advance to Championship Bracket

Minnesota West, Anoka-Ramsey, Fulton-Montgomery, and Northland win Thursday contests to move on

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:42am

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The NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship tournament continued on Thursday with five games at the Brownwood Coliseum. The top seeds in the tournament, including Minnesota West, Anoka-Ramsey, Fulton-Montgomery, and Northland, all won their matchups to advance in the championship bracket.

Why it matters

The NJCAA tournament features the best junior college women's basketball teams in the country, showcasing the talent and competitiveness at the Division III level. These wins by the top seeds demonstrate the strength of their programs and set up exciting matchups in the next round as teams vie for the national championship.

The details

In the day's action, #5 Fulton-Montgomery rallied from a 15-point deficit to defeat #4 Monroe-Bronx in overtime, #6 Northland knocked off #3 Rhode Island, #1 Minnesota West cruised past #8 Onondaga, and #2 Anoka-Ramsey topped #7 Owens. The tournament will continue on Friday with the quarterfinal round.

  • The NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship tournament is taking place this week in Brownwood, Texas.
  • Thursday's games were part of the championship bracket, with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals on Friday.

The players

Fulton-Montgomery Community College

The No. 5 seed Lady Raiders from Johnstown, New York, came back from a 15-point deficit to defeat No. 4 seed Monroe University-Bronx in overtime.

Northland Community & Tech Pioneers

The No. 6 seed Pioneers from Thief River Falls, Minnesota, knocked off the No. 3 seed Community College of Rhode Island Knights.

Minnesota West Community & Tech Lady Jays

The tournament's No. 1 seed, the Lady Jays from Worthington, Minnesota, rolled past the No. 8 seed Onondaga Community College Lazers.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College Golden Rams

The No. 2 seed Golden Rams from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, coasted to a win over the No. 7 seed Owens Community College Express.

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What’s next

The tournament will continue on Friday with the quarterfinal round, featuring matchups between the top seeds that advanced on Thursday.

The takeaway

The victories by the top seeds in the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship tournament demonstrate the strength and depth of the junior college basketball landscape, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.