EDISON, NJ (Feb 28, 2026) – Following Saturday’s regular season finale, the field is officially set for the 2026 Air Force Reserve Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Basketball Championship. The annual conference tournament will take place from March 5-9 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The top six teams on the league’s final standings will receive a first-round bye. The Team’s clinching byes to the quarterfinals include No. 1 Quinnipiac (24-5, 19-1 MAAC), No. 2 Fairfield (25-4, 19-1 MAAC), No. 3 Merrimack (18-11, 15-5 MAAC), No. 4 Iona (19-11, 12-8 MAAC), No 5 Siena (13-16, 11-9 MAAC) and No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s (15-14, 11-9 MAAC).
First round action tips off on Thursday, March 5 as No. 8 Manhattan (10-19, 10-10 MAAC) faces No. 9 Marist (11-19, 8-12 MAAC) to open the 2026 championship at 12:00 p.m. The winner advances to Friday’s quarterfinals on Friday, March 6 at 12:00 p.m. Manhattan and Marist split their regular season series, with each team earning road wins. Marist claimed a 62-57 win on January 1, while Manhattan earned a 66-61 overtime victory on February 19.
The second first round contest will feature, No. 7 Sacred Heart (12-17, 10-10 MAAC) and No. 10 Saint Peter’s (7-22, 6-14 MAAC) meeting at 2:30 p.m. The winner will take on No. 2 Fairfield in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 6 at 2:30 p.m. The two teams met once during the regular season, with Sacred Heart edging out a 63–61 victory on Valentine’s Day.
Saturday, March 7 features two predetermined quarterfinal matchups. First, at 12:00 p.m., No. 4 Iona and No. 5 Siena will face off. The New York rivals split their regular season series, each winning on the other’s home court. The Gaels earned a 61-52 win in Loudonville, NY, while the Saints responded with a 94-80 victory at New Rochelle, NY. Following the game at 12:00 p.m., No. 3 Merrimack and No. 6 Mount St. Mary's will face off at 2:30 p.m. Merrimack swept the regular season series, taking both contests by scores of 60-56 and 81-68, respectively.
All games during the 2026 Air Force Reserve MAAC Women’s Basketball Championship will broadcast live on ESPN+. Monday’s championship title game will air on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m.
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Round
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Game
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Matchup
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Date
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Times
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Network
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First Round
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Game 1
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No. 8 Manhattan vs. No. 9 Marist
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March 5
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12:00 p.m.
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ESPN+
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First Round
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Game 2
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No. 7 Sacred Heart vs. No. 10 Saint Peter’s
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March 5
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2:30 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Quarterfinal
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Game 3
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No. 1 Quinnipiac vs. Game 1 Winner
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March 6
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12:00 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Quarterfinal
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Game 4
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No. 2 Fairfield vs. Game 2 Winner
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March 6
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2:30 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Quarterfinal
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Game 5
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No. 4 Iona vs. No. 5 Siena
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March 7
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12:00 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Quarterfinal
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Game 6
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No. 3 Merrimack vs. No. 6 Mount St. Mary’s
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March 7
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2:30 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Semifinal
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Game 7
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Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner
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March 8
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12:00 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Semifinal
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Game 8
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Game 4 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner
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March 8
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2:30 p.m.
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ESPN+
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Championship
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Game 9
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Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner
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March 9
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6:00 p.m.
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ESPN+
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The 2025-26 campaign culminates with the 2026 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 5-10 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the seventh consecutive year dating back to 2020. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on X.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.