INDIANAPOLIS - Making their first appearance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament since 2022, the Emmanuel Saints will head to Maine on Friday, March 6, to face the No. 8 Bowdoin Polar Bears in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament, as announced by the NCAA Office on Monday afternoon. Bowdoin is the second top-25-ranked team the Saints will face this season, having faced Bates earlier in the season.

Joining the Saints and Polar Bears in the pod are two familiar names to Emmanuel; the Southern Maine Huskies and Johnson & Wales Wildcats. The first two rounds of the tournament are scheduled for Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, with all games hosted at Bowdoin. The winners of Friday's games advance to play on Saturday with a chance to reach the Sweet 16. Emmanuel and Southern Maine faced off on Nov. 19, with the Huskies defeating the Saints, 86-77.

For a second straight season, the NCAA Power Index (NPI) played a role in determining seeding among 64 teams. Entering the tournament, Bowdoin ranks eighth in the NPI, followed by Southern Maine at 30, then Johnson and Wales at 52, while the Saints are last in the pod, ranking 101st.

The Polar Bears come in with a record of 24-2, having lost their 16-game winning streak in their conference championship game to Bates. 

Southern Maine holds a record of 25-2 and are receiving votes in the latest top-25 poll according to D3Hoops.com. The Huskies have lost only once since the calendar flipped to 2026, avenging that only defeat in the Little East Championship Game against Rhode Island College.

The Wildcats came away with the Conference of New England Championship in their first season in the conference after leaving the Great Northeast Athletic Conference in 2025. Johnson & Wales have won 14 consecutive games as they return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over a decade.

The Saints are one of the nation's best defenses, ranking inside the top 10 teams in turnovers forced, steals per game, and turnover margin. The Polar Bears look to match that defensive intensity as they allowed just 49.4 points per game, 10th-best in NCAA Division III.

All First and Second Round games will be streamed live on NCAA.com. The winners of Friday's games will play on Sunday evening at 7:45 p.m. for a spot in the final 16 teams.