TAMPA. Fla. - [Bracket / Tournament Page] - Four teams represent the Sunshine State Conference in the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament. The University of Tampa, the Sunshine State Conference regular-season and tournament champion, will host the event. The SSC claimed three at-large bids, with Eckerd College, Lynn University, and Nova Southeastern University all heading to Tampa.The NCAA announced the bracket on Sunday, March 5.
Tampa (30-1, 19-1) earns the No. 1 seed after winning their third consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament. The tournament title was their eighth all time. Last season, the Spartans qualified as the No. 2 seed in the South, but they were upset in the first round by the eventual regional champion, No. 7 Valdosta State. This season they are led by SSC Player and Newcomer of the Year, Sydney Kin, First Team All-SSC selection Melijah Sullivan, and Second Team All-SSC selection, Audrey Ramsey. The Spartans will face No. 8 seed Tuskegee (26-3) on March 10 at 5:00 PM
Eckerd (24-5, 18-2) earns the No. 2 seed in the region after finishing second in the SSC regular season standings. They were led this season by All-SSC First Team selections, Sofia Persson and Maya Price. Defensively, they will get a boost from SSC Defensive Player of the Year Lauryn Vieira.
The Tritons will take on the No. 7 seed Nova Southeastern (21-8, 13-7). The Sharks earned their way into the regional after finishing fourth in the SSC during the regular season. They will be led by All-SSC First Team selection Madison Frederick and All-SSC Second Team selection Hailey Conley. The Tritons swept the Sharks this season. Their game is scheduled to tipoff on March 10 at 2:30 PM.
Lynn (23-8, 14-6) earns the No. 5 seed after finishing as the runner-up in the SSC Tournament. It was their first trip to the final since 2010. Their success this year has been due in large part to two newcomers, Jada Marone and Ella Fiore, who were both named to the All-SSC Newcomer Team. Marone was also an All-SSC Second Team selection, while Fiore was an honorable mention. The Fighting Knights will face No. 4 Lee (25-6) on March 10 at 7:30 PM.
The South Region tournament begins on Friday, March 10. Semifinal games will be played on Saturday, March 11, and the championship game will be played on Monday, March 13. All games will be played at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center at the University of Tampa. The winner of the South Region tournament will advance to the Elite Eight later this month. The national championship game will be played on Saturday April 1 in Dallas, Texas.