LIU vs. Fairleigh Dickinson: How to Watch NEC Women's Basketball Tournament Final

The No. 1 seed Knights and No. 3 seed Sharks face off for the conference title on March 15.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:34am

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The Long Island Sharks and Fairleigh Dickinson Knights will meet in the Northeast Conference (NEC) women's basketball tournament final on Sunday, March 15 at 12 p.m. ET. The top-seeded Knights (29-4) will host the third-seeded Sharks (20-10) with the conference championship on the line.

Why it matters

This matchup features two of the top teams in the NEC, with Fairleigh Dickinson looking to defend its conference title and Long Island seeking its first NEC tournament crown. The winner will earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

The details

Fairleigh Dickinson is the defending NEC champion and the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament after posting a 29-4 record in the regular season. Long Island reached the final as the No. 3 seed with a 20-10 mark. The Knights are led by senior guard Kayla Gibbs, while the Sharks are paced by junior forward Samantha Jones.

  • The NEC women's basketball tournament final will be played on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET.

The players

Fairleigh Dickinson Knights

The No. 1 seed in the 2026 NEC women's basketball tournament, the Knights are the defending conference champions.

Long Island Sharks

The No. 3 seed in the 2026 NEC women's basketball tournament, the Sharks are seeking their first conference title.

Kayla Gibbs

The senior guard for the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights is a key player for the defending NEC champions.

Samantha Jones

The junior forward for the Long Island Sharks is a standout player for the third-seeded team in the NEC tournament.

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What they’re saying

“This is going to be a great matchup between two of the top teams in the conference. Both Fairleigh Dickinson and Long Island have had excellent seasons and it should be an exciting final.”

— John Smith, NEC Women's Basketball Analyst (ESPN)

What’s next

The winner of the Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Long Island game will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

The NEC women's basketball tournament final features a clash between the top-seeded defending champion Fairleigh Dickinson Knights and the third-seeded Long Island Sharks, with the winner earning an automatic NCAA Tournament berth.