Fairfield University selected to host 2012 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship first & second rounds | Press Releases

Varsity Logo The NCAA has announced that Fairfield University will be one of 16 hosts for the 2012 Division I Women's Basketball Championship first and second rounds to be played either on March 17 and 19 or on March 18 and 20. The official dates will be determined in June, 2011.

"We are extremely proud to be selected as a host for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship," Athletics Director Gene Doris said. "The fact that the NCAA Women's Basketball Committee awarded us this event for the fourth time shows their confidence in Fairfield University, the Arena at Harbor Yard, and the City of Bridgeport."

The championship comes to the Arena at Harbor Yard and the City of Bridgeport for the fourth time in the last nine years. Fairfield University last hosted the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in 2008 when the first and second rounds included eight teams. Currently, the first and second rounds will include four teams. The Championship also came to the Arena at Harbor Yard in 2004 (first and second rounds), 2006 (regional), and 2008.

"The Arena at Harbor Yard continues be a showcase for NCAA championships," Executive Director Lynn Carlotto said. "We are pleased to offer area college basketball fans the opportunity to see four of the top women's basketball programs in the country."

Cities chosen to host first- and second-round games in 2012 include Ames, Iowa; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bowling Green, Ohio, Bridgeport, Conn.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Chicago, Illinois; College Park, Maryland; College Station, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Nashville, Tennessee; Norfolk, Virginia; Norman, Oklahoma; Notre Dame, Indiana; Spokane, Washington; Tallahassee, Florida; and West Lafayette, Indiana. The four selected regional sites are Des Moines, Iowa; Fresno, California; Kingston, Rhode Island; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Fairfield University and Yale University will also co-host the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Regional at the Arena at Harbor Yard on March 23-24.