When LeMoyne College decided to move from NCAA Division 2 to NCAA Division 1 in May of 2023, they saw the opportunity to grow, challenge, and elevate the entire institution.
But the move came with the reality that student-athletes would not be able to compete in the postseason regardless of their regular-season records.
The Northeast Conference (NEC) had a two-year hiatus put on all reclassifying schools, meaning they could not compete in any NEC postseason events for the first two years of their four-year transition.
Nationally, the NCAA has a four-year hold on all reclassifying schools, keeping sports programs from getting to play in any NCAA postseason events, barring a school from winning an NCAA national championship.
However, the NEC changed their rule and made any reclassifying school immediately eligible for postseason play, a move that opened the door for LeMoyne Dolphins Women's Basketball to be able to compete for an NEC Tournament championship right away.
And compete they have.
LeMoyne came into the 2024 NEC Tournament as the 2-seed, thanks to a record of 14-2 in the NEC in their first regular season in the conference and as an NCAA Division 1 program in general, behind only the Sacred Heart Pioneers, who ended the conference regular season at 15-1; the Pioneers only loss in the NEC being when they hosted the Dolphins.
In this year's NEC Tournament, the Dolphins have defeated the Stonehill Skyhawks 79-59 in the NEC Quarterfinal Round, followed by a 52-38 victory over the Fairleigh Dickinson (FDU) Knights in the NEC Semifinal Round, hosting both games.
As a result, LeMoyne will travel to Fairfield, Connecticut, to face Sacred Heart this Sunday, March 17, at NoonET for the right to call themselves NEC Tournament Champions.
A championship within reach in their first season in the NEC sounds like a terrific entrance into Division 1 play.
But even if they achieve the win in the NEC Tournament Championship, the Dolphins will not receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, due to the aforementioned four-year hiatus on playing in the NCAA Tournament for schools in the four-year reclassification process.
So, people are seeing this NEC Tournament Championship already as bitter-sweet because once it is over, LeMoyne is coming home, no matter what the outcome is in the game.
Or so you thought.
I am proud to announce that LeMoyne Dolphins Women's Basketball will have an opportunity at a national championship in their first season in NCAA Division 1.
That opportunity?
The WNIT, who has tabbed LeMoyne as the fourth automatic qualifier for the tournament, joining USC Upstate, UNC Greensboro, and fellow reclassifying school Southern Indiana.
LeMoyne has already accepted the WNIT's offer.
The rest of the WNIT field will be announced late night on Sunday, March 17.
Match-ups, tip-times, and locations will follow, being unveiled on Monday, March 18, at NoonET.
So keep your 'phins ready.
There is a new ocean to explore, where the buoy is hardware.
Did you really think LeMoyne was coming into the room without knocking the door down?
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