1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament
The 1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament took place March 15–31, 1996. The Final Four consisted of Connecticut, Georgia, Stanford, and Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Georgia 83–65 in the championship game.[1]
Teams | 64 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finals site | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina | ||||
Champions | Tennessee Volunteers (4th title) | ||||
Runner-up | Georgia Bulldogs (2nd title game) | ||||
Semifinalists |
| ||||
|
Tournament records
- Three-point field goal percentage – Nykesha Sales, Connecticut, hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the semi-final game against Tennessee, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
- Three-point field goal percentage – Abby Conklin, Tennessee hit four of five three-point field goal attempts(80%) in the championship game against Georgia, tying a record for three-point field goal percentage in a Final Four game, held by four other players.
- Three-point field goals – Harvard hit 16 three-point field goals in a Mideast first-round game, setting the record for most three-point field goals in an NCAA tournament game, subsequently tied by two other teams.[2]
Qualifying teams – automatic
Sixty-four teams were selected to participate in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. Thirty-one conferences were eligible for an automatic bid.[2]
Qualifying teams – at-large
Thirty-three additional teams were selected to complete the sixty-four invitations.[2]
At-large Bids | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Record | ||||
Qualifying School | Conference | Regular Season |
Conference | Seed |
University of Alabama | Southeastern | 22–7 | 7–4 | 4 |
Auburn University | Southeastern | 20–8 | 6–5 | 6 |
DePaul University | Conference USA | 20–9 | 13–1 | 7 |
Duke University | Atlantic Coast | 25–6 | 12–4 | 4 |
University of Florida | Southeastern | 21–8 | 6–5 | 5 |
University of Georgia | Southeastern | 23–4 | 10–1 | 2 |
University of Iowa | Big Ten | 25–3 | 15–1 | 2 |
James Madison University | Colonial | 21–8 | 12–4 | 13 |
University of Kansas | Big Eight | 20–9 | 11–3 | 4 |
Kent State University | Mid-American | 23–6 | 16–2 | 10 |
University of Massachusetts | Atlantic 10 | 20–9 | 11–5 | 8 |
Michigan State University | Big Ten | 17–10 | 9–7 | 9 |
Middle Tennessee State University | Ohio Valley | 24–5 | 13–3 | 13 |
University of Mississippi | Southeastern | 18–10 | 6–5 | 7 |
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 9 |
North Carolina State University | Atlantic Coast | 19–9 | 10–6 | 5 |
University of Notre Dame | Big East | 22–7 | 15–3 | 12 |
Ohio State University | Big Ten | 20–12 | 8–8 | 9 |
Oklahoma State University–Stillwater | Big Eight | 19–9 | 8–6 | 7 |
University of Oregon | Pacific-10 | 18–10 | 10–8 | 11 |
Oregon State University | Pacific-10 | 19–10 | 11–7 | 6 |
University of Portland | West Coast | 23–6 | 12–2 | 13 |
Purdue University | Big Ten | 20–10 | 11–5 | 5 |
University of Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 | 21–7 | 13–3 | 10 |
Southern Methodist University | Southwest | 19–10 | 9–5 | 10 |
University of Southern Mississippi | Conference USA | 21–7 | 11–3 | 9 |
University of Texas at Austin | Southwest | 20–8 | 13–1 | 5 |
Texas Tech University | Southwest | 25–4 | 13–1 | 4 |
Tulane University | Conference USA | 21–9 | 9–5 | 14 |
University of Utah | Western Athletic | 21–7 | 12–2 | 8 |
Vanderbilt University | Southeastern | 20–7 | 7–4 | 3 |
University of Virginia | Atlantic Coast | 23–6 | 13–3 | 3 |
University of Wisconsin–Madison | Big Ten | 21–7 | 12–4 | 6 |
Bids by conference
Thirty-one conferences earned an automatic bid. In seventeen cases, the automatic bid was the only representative from the conference. Thirty-three additional at-large teams were selected from fourteen of the conferences.[2]
Bids | Conference | Teams |
7 | Southeastern | Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt |
6 | Big Ten | Penn St., Iowa, Michigan St., Ohio St., Purdue, Wisconsin |
4 | Atlantic Coast | Clemson, Duke, North Carolina St., Virginia |
4 | Big Eight | Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma St. |
4 | Conference USA | Memphis, DePaul, Southern Miss., Tulane |
4 | Southwest | Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech |
3 | Atlantic 10 | George Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island |
3 | Pacific-10 | Stanford, Oregon, Oregon St. |
2 | Big East | Connecticut, Notre Dame |
2 | Colonial | Old Dominion, James Madison |
2 | Mid-American | Toledo, Kent St. |
2 | Ohio Valley | Austin Peay, Middle Tenn. |
2 | West Coast | San Francisco, Portland |
2 | Western Athletic | Colorado St., Utah |
1 | Big Sky | Montana |
1 | Big South | Radford |
1 | Big West | Hawaii |
1 | Ivy | Harvard |
1 | Metro Atlantic | Manhattan |
1 | Mid-Continent | Youngstown St. |
1 | Mid-Eastern | Howard |
1 | Midwestern Collegiate | Butler |
1 | Missouri Valley | Missouri St. |
1 | North Atlantic | Maine |
1 | Northeast | St. Francis (PA) |
1 | Patriot | Holy Cross |
1 | Southern | Appalachian St. |
1 | Southland | Stephen F. Austin |
1 | Southwestern | Grambling State |
1 | Sun Belt | Louisiana Tech |
1 | Trans-America | UCF |
First and second rounds
In 1996, the field remained at 64 teams. The teams were seeded, and assigned to four geographic regions, with seeds 1-16 in each region. In Round 1, seeds 1 and 16 faced each other, as well as seeds 2 and 15, seeds 3 and 14, seeds 4 and 13, seeds 5 and 12, seeds 6 and 11, seeds 7 and 10, and seeds 8 and 9. In the first two rounds, the top four seeds were given the opportunity to host the first-round game. In all cases, the higher seed accepted the opportunity.[3]
The following table lists the region, host school, venue and the sixteen first and second round locations:
Regionals and Final Four
The Regionals, named for the general location, were held from March 23 to March 25 at these sites:
- East Regional University Hall (University of Virginia), Charlottesville, Virginia (Host: University of Virginia)
- Midwest Regional William R. Johnson Coliseum, Nacogdoches, Texas (Host: Stephen F. Austin University)
- West Regional Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)
- Mideast Regional Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois (Host: DePaul University)
Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four held March 29 and March 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Coliseum, (co-hosted by Davidson College and UNC Charlotte).
Bids by state
The sixty-four teams came from thirty-two states, plus Washington, D.C. Texas and Tennessee had the most teams with five bids. Eighteen states did not have any teams receiving bids.[2]
Bids | State | Teams |
---|---|---|
5 | Tennessee | Austin Peay, Memphis, Tennessee, Middle Tenn., Vanderbilt |
5 | Texas | Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech |
4 | Ohio | Toledo, Youngstown St., Kent St., Ohio St. |
4 | Virginia | Old Dominion, Radford, James Madison, Virginia |
3 | Indiana | Butler, Notre Dame, Purdue |
3 | Louisiana | Grambling State, Louisiana Tech, Tulane |
3 | Massachusetts | Harvard, Holy Cross, Massachusetts |
3 | North Carolina | Appalachian St., Duke, North Carolina St. |
3 | Oregon | Oregon, Oregon St., Portland |
2 | Alabama | Alabama, Auburn |
2 | California | San Francisco, Stanford |
2 | Colorado | Colorado, Colorado St. |
2 | District of Columbia | George Washington, Howard |
2 | Florida | UCF, Florida |
2 | Mississippi | Ole Miss, Southern Miss. |
1 | New York | Manhattan |
1 | Connecticut | Connecticut |
1 | Georgia | Georgia |
1 | Hawaii | Hawaii |
1 | Illinois | DePaul |
1 | Iowa | Iowa |
1 | Kansas | Kansas |
1 | Maine | Maine |
1 | Michigan | Michigan St. |
1 | Missouri | Missouri St. |
1 | Montana | Montana |
1 | Nebraska | Nebraska |
1 | Oklahoma | Oklahoma St. |
2 | Pennsylvania | Penn St., St Francis |
1 | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
1 | South Carolina | Clemson |
1 | Utah | Utah |
1 | Wisconsin | Wisconsin |
Brackets
East Region
First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | Regional finals March 25 University Hall Charlottesville, VA | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Radford | 56 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
Knoxville, TN | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Ohio State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Memphis | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Ohio State | 97 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Kansas | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Texas | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | SW Missouri St. | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Texas | 70 | |||||||||||||||||
Lawrence, KS | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Kansas | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Kansas | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Middle Tennessee State | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Tennessee | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | George Washington | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Maine | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | George Washington | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
Charlottesville, VA | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Manhattan | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Virginia | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Old Dominion | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Ole Miss | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Toledo | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Toledo | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
Norfolk, VA | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Old Dominion | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Old Dominion | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Holy Cross | 56 |
Mideast Region
First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | Regional finals March 25 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Howard | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
Storrs, CT | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Michigan State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Massachusetts | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Michigan State | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | San Francisco | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Florida | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | San Francisco | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | San Francisco | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
Durham, NC | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Duke | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Duke | 85 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | James Madison | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Vanderbilt | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Wisconsin | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Oregon | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Wisconsin | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
Nashville, TN | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Vanderbilt | 96 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Vanderbilt | 100 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Harvard | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Vanderbilt | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Iowa | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | DePaul | 96 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | SMU | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | DePaul | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
Iowa City, IA | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Iowa | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Butler | 67 |
Midwest Region
First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | Regional finals March 25 William R. Johnson Coliseum Nacogdoches, Texas | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Central Florida | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 84 | |||||||||||||||||
Ruston, LA | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Southern Mississippi | 46 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Utah | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Southern Mississippi | 74 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Texas Tech | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Purdue | 60 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Notre Dame | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Notre Dame | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
Lubbock, Texas | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Texas Tech | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Texas Tech | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Portland | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Louisiana Tech | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Oregon State | 65 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Stephen F. Austin | 67 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Stephen F. Austin | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
Clemson, SC | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Clemson | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Clemson | 79 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Austin Peay | 52 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Stephen F. Austin | 64 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Oklahoma State | 90 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Rhode Island | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Oklahoma State | 55 | |||||||||||||||||
Athens, GA | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Georgia | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | St. Francis PA | 66 |
West Region
First round March 15 and 16 | Second round March 17 and 18 | Regional semifinals March 23 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | Regional finals March 25 Alaska Airlines Arena Seattle, WA | ||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
16 | Grambling State | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
Stanford, CA | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Colorado State | 63 | |||||||||||||||||
8 | Colorado State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
9 | Nebraska | 62 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 78 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Alabama | 76 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | North Carolina State | 77 | |||||||||||||||||
12 | Montana | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | North Carolina State | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Tuscaloosa, AL | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | Alabama | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Alabama | 95 | |||||||||||||||||
13 | Appalachian State | 66 | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Stanford | 71 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Auburn | 57 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Auburn | 73 | |||||||||||||||||
11 | Hawaii | 53 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Auburn | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
Boulder, CO | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | Colorado | 61 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Colorado | 83 | |||||||||||||||||
14 | Tulane | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Auburn | 75 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Penn State | 69 | |||||||||||||||||
7 | Texas A&M | 68 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Kent State | 72 | |||||||||||||||||
10 | Kent State | 59 | |||||||||||||||||
University Park, PA | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | Penn State | 86 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Penn State | 94 | |||||||||||||||||
15 | Youngstown State | 71 |
Final Four – Charlotte, North Carolina
National semifinals March 29 | National championship March 31 | ||||||||
E1 | Tennessee | 88 | |||||||
ME1 | Connecticut | 83 (OT) | |||||||
E1 | Tennessee | 83 | |||||||
MW2 | Georgia | 65 | |||||||
MW2 | Georgia | 86 | |||||||
W1 | Stanford | 76 |
Record by conference
Sixteen conferences had more than one bid, or at least one win in NCAA Tournament play:[2]
Conference | # of Bids | Record | Win % | Round of 32 |
Sweet Sixteen |
Elite Eight |
Final Four |
Championship Game |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southeastern | 7 | 19–6 | .760 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Big Ten | 6 | 7–6 | .538 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – |
Atlantic Coast | 4 | 6–4 | .600 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
Big Eight | 4 | 4–4 | .500 | 3 | 1 | – | – | – |
Southwest | 4 | 3–4 | .429 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
Conference USA | 4 | 2–4 | .333 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
Pacific-10 | 3 | 4–3 | .571 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
Atlantic 10 | 3 | 1–3 | .250 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Big East | 2 | 5–2 | .714 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – |
Colonial | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Mid-American | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 2 | – | – | – | – |
West Coast | 2 | 2–2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Western Athletic | 2 | 1–2 | .333 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Ohio Valley | 2 | 0–2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Sun Belt | 1 | 3–1 | .750 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – |
Southland | 1 | 2–1 | .667 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
Fifteen conferences went 0-1: Big Sky Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Ivy League, MAAC, Mid-Continent, MEAC, Midwestern Collegiate, Missouri Valley Conference, North Atlantic Conference, Northeast Conference, Patriot League, Southern Conference, SWAC, and Trans America[2]
All-Tournament team
- Michelle M. Marciniak, Tennessee
- Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee
- Tiffani Johnson, Tennessee
- La'Keshia Frett, Georgia
- Saudia Roundtree, Georgia [2]
Game officials
- Art Bomegen (semifinal)
- Doug Cloud (semifinal)
- Wes Dean (semifinal)
- John Morningstar (semifinal)
- Bob Trammell (semifinal)
- Scott Yarborough (semifinal)
- Sally Bell (final)
- Dee Kantner (final)
- Violet Palmer (final) [2]
This was the first year the NCAA used three officials in tournament games, which was the standard for men's games since the 1978-79 season. Several conferences, including the SEC, assigned three officials to its regular season and conference tournament games for several seasons before the NCAA changed its rules.
See also
- 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament
- 1996 NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament
- 1996 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament
- 1996 NAIA Division II women's basketball tournament
References
- Gregory Cooper. "1996 Tournament". Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved March 30, 2008.
- Nixon, Rick. "Official 2012 NCAA Women's Final Four Records Book" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
- "Attendance and Sites" (PDF). NCAA. Retrieved March 19, 2012.