Transy president issues statement after No. 2 women's basketball snubbed by NCAA

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - After 62 straight wins, the defending national champions and No. 2 Transylvania Pioneer women’s basketball (28-0, 18-0 HCAC) team will not be hosting the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

After beating Ohio Wesleyan Saturday night inside the Clive M. Beck Center, 70-55, the Pioneers learned Sunday they will be traveling to Wisconsin for the Sweet 16.

Transylvania University President Brien Lewis sent an email to Charlie Baker, the NCAA President, voicing his displeasure with the decision.

I am extremely disappointed to learn that despite being the undefeated national champions and being on a historic 62-game winning streak (the third longest in DIII women’s basketball), the Transylvania Pioneers will not be hosting the next round but will be sent on a 7-hour bus trip to Whitewater, Wisconsin.
To say that this seems a very poor way of rewarding consistent outstanding performance by these student athletes and their dedicated supporters is a gross understatement.
While I understand and applaud the general policy of limiting flights and travel, this does not appear appropriate or reasonable in these circumstances and given the bracketing and results of the tournament to date.
I regret having no alternative at this point but to express this frustration very publicly.
Brien Lewis, Transylvania University President

Rather than playing at home next weekend, Transy is being sent to Whitewater, WI. to face University of Wisconsin-Stout (23-7) in the Sweet 16 on Friday. Tip-off is set for 6:00 P.M. EST. No. 22 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (24-4) and No. 10 Hope College (26-3) are also in that pod.

The other two unbeaten teams in D3, Rhode Island College and New York University, are each hosting the Sweet 16/Elite 8 rounds.

In 2023, Transy (also ranked No. 2 at the time) hosted the first two weekends before moving to a neutral site for the Final Four.

The Pioneers have been ranked number two all season long behind NYU, but they say they don’t mind being underdogs. The two teams are on the same side of the bracket, meaning the number one and two teams would potentially meet in the Final Four, should they both advance, rather than the National Championship.

The 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Final Four and National Championship will be held in Columbus, Ohio’s Capital Center Performance Arena March 14 and 16.