SCRANTON — Once again, the journey that is the NCAA Division III tournament for the University of Scranton women’s basketball team will begin at home.
The 64-team bracket was revealed Monday afternoon and the Lady Royals (27-0) will host the first two rounds at the John Long Center. They drew Framingham State (17-10) in the first round Friday at 8:30 p.m. Otterbein University (22-5) and Randolph-Macon University (21-7) are also headed here and will play in the other first-round matchup at 6 p.m. The two winners advance to the second round Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
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After winning its 11th straight and 14th overall Landmark Conference championship, Scranton earned an automatic bid to the tournament for a 38th time, which is the most in NCAA Division III women’s history.
Even though the Lady Royals knew they were in the tournament, it didn’t make it any less exciting hearing their name called during the selection show.
“Hearing and seeing your name up on that screen in front of the whole nation is an incredible feeling,” senior and Holy Cross grad Kaci Kranson said. “For me, it’s especially special because this is my fourth time in the NCAA tournament. Obviously, it’s going to be my last. So we’re really trying make a deep run this year and make it past the Elite Eight.”
Scranton has lost in the Elite Eight each of the past two seasons.
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Freshman and Dunmore graduate Sophia Talutto experienced the Selection Show for the first time.
“When I committed last year, I saw the videos of them (watching the show),” Talutto said. “In that moment, I was like, ‘Wow. I really want to be there.’ So it was surreal (Monday) to finally be a part of that and wishing that would be me one day. It’s really exciting.
“We have a great community here, which is one of the reasons why I came here. It’s just like Dunmore. Having the home court advantage is such a difference in those types of games, especially in the NCAAs. Just to be a part of that and home with the community is going to be more motivation for us to win.”
Framingham State beat top-seeded Bridgewater State in the championship game of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference to earn an automatic bid to the tournament. It is the fourth NCAA bid for the Rams.
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Last time they were in the NCAAs, in 2024, they faced Scranton in the first round at the Long Center. The Lady Royals won, 60-39.
“They were a tough team two years ago,” Scranton coach Ben O’Brien said. “I expect they’ll be tough again this year. I’m not sure how many players they have back from that team a couple years ago, but I remember they were talented and very well-coached.”
Sophomore Faith Greene is the Rams’ leading scorer at 16.5 points. Sophomore Jacqueline Schels, who was MVP of the MASCAC tournament, follows with 15.9 points.
As for the other teams in the pod, Otterbein won its first Ohio Athletic Conference tournament championship, defeating top-seeded Baldwin-Wallace in the final, 51-45. The Cardinals scored eight of the game’s final 10 points in the last four minutes to break a 43-43 tie and earn just its second NCAA tournament berth. The other came in 2013.
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Randolph-Macon received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after losing in the final of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament to undefeated Washington & Lee, 67-56. It is the 14th NCAA berth for the Yellow Jackets.
The Lady Royals are 1-1 against Randolph-Macon, including a 70-65 loss in the national semifinals in 2005. Scranton has never faced Otterbein.
Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds will be held March 13-14. The Final Four again is being held at Roanoke College’s Cregger Center in Virginia. The semifinals are March 19 and the final is March 21.
“It’s an exciting time of the season. Our players have worked so hard to get to this point,” O’Brien said. “Looking forward to getting to know all the teams in our pod and trying to learn as much as we can and, at the same time, get us ready to play our best basketball. We’re excited. We have a great team and I think we’re in for a fun few weeks here.”
