UAH Advances to Division II South Regional Final

Chargers fend off Nova Southeastern to set up matchup with Eckerd on Monday

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:19am

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The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) women's basketball team defeated Nova Southeastern 73-70 in the second round of the NCAA Division II South Regional on Saturday. The Chargers, led by Gulf South Conference Player of the Year Lili Wilken's 21 points and 8 rebounds, will face Eckerd in the regional final on Monday, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh.

Why it matters

UAH's victory extends their historic season, which has already seen the team break the program's single-season wins record. A win over Eckerd would send the Chargers to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

The details

UAH led for most of the game, but Nova Southeastern made a late push to make it a one-point game with 26 seconds left. However, Paris Opelt hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory for the Chargers. UAH knocked down 13 3-pointers in the game, with Ivey Maddox and Millie Brown combining for 8 of those.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • The regional final against Eckerd will be played on Monday, March 17, 2026 at 7 p.m.

The players

Lili Wilken

The Gulf South Conference Player of the Year, Wilken scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for UAH.

Ivey Maddox

Maddox knocked down 5 of UAH's 13 3-pointers in the game.

Millie Brown

Brown hit 3 of UAH's 13 3-pointers and scored 13 points in the victory.

Paris Opelt

Opelt hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory for UAH.

Allen Sharpe

The veteran UAH head coach praised his team's 'it' factor and toughness in the win.

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What they’re saying

“Whenever he says 'it,' I always think of just grit and the really tough preseason practices where we all have to suffer together and band together for moments like this.”

— Millie Brown, Guard (al.com)

“It's just kind of the element of how hard we work in practice that translates into our team chemistry, how we push each other, work hard and want the best for each other.”

— Lili Wilken, Gulf South Conference Player of the Year (al.com)

“We just we want to keep this thing going. We want to play as long as we can.”

— Allen Sharpe, Head Coach (al.com)

What’s next

The winner of Monday's regional final between UAH and Eckerd will advance to the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh.

The takeaway

UAH's resilient and tight-knit team has propelled the Chargers to new heights this season, and a win over Eckerd would mark the first Elite Eight appearance in program history.