1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament

1996 NCAA Division II
women's basketball tournament
Teams	48
Finals site	Fargo, North Dakota
Champions	North Dakota State Bison (5th title)
Runner-up	Shippensburg Raiders (1st title game)
Third place	Abilene Christian Wildcats (1st Final Four)
Fourth place	Delta State Lady Statesmen (7th Final Four)
Winning coach	Amy Ruley (5th title)
MOP	Kasey Morlock (North Dakota State)
NCAA Division II women's tournaments
«1995	1997»

The 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament was the 15th annual tournament hosted by the NCAA to determine the national champion of Division II women's collegiate basketball in the United States.^[1]

Three-time defending champions North Dakota State defeated Shippensburg in the championship game, 104–78, to claim the Bison's fifth NCAA Division II national title. This was North Dakota State's fifth title in six years and fourth of four consecutive titles for the Bison.

The championship rounds were contested in Fargo, North Dakota.

Regionals

East - Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

Location: Heiges Field House Host: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			1	Shippensburg	87

				Pitt Johnstown	77
	Kutztown	52

	Pitt Johnstown	63
						1	Shippensburg	79

						3	Salem-Teikyo	68
6	Longwood	55

3	Salem-Teikyo	86
			3	Salem-Teikyo	65

			2	Slippery Rock	62

Great Lakes - Louisville, Kentucky

Location: Knights Hall Host: Bellarmine College

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			1	Bellarmine	89

			5	Southern Indiana	80
4	Oakland	83

5	Southern Indiana	84
						1	Bellarmine	55

						2	Northern Michigan	84
3	IPFW	71

6	Lake Superior State	79
			6	Lake Superior State	53

			2	Northern Michigan	64

North Central - Fargo, North Dakota

Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			2	South Dakota State	55

			3	North Dakota	68
6	Metro State	47

3	North Dakota	71
						3	North Dakota	77

						1	North Dakota State	89
4	Minnesota Duluth	65

5	Northern Colorado	60
			4	Minnesota Duluth	52

			1	North Dakota State	72

Northeast - Waltham, Massachusetts

Location: Dana Center Host: Bentley College

First round Round of 48 March 8			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 10

			2	Stonehill	60

			3	Saint Rose	68
6	American International	61

3	Saint Rose	77
						3	Saint Rose	58

						1	Bentley	63
4	Bridgeport	82

5	Bryant	79
			4	Bridgeport	71

			1	Bentley	87

South - Cleveland, Mississippi

Location: Walter Sillers Coliseum Host: Delta State University

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			2	Florida Southern	97

				Central Arkansas	93
	Central Arkansas	68

	Fort Valley State	55
						2	Florida Southern	78

						1	Delta State	96
	Albany State	63

	Rollins	62
				Albany State	67

			1	Delta State	99

South Atlantic - Wingate, North Carolina

Location: Cuddy Arena Host: Wingate College

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			1	Shaw	61

			4	Bowie State	70
4	Bowie State	74

5	Georgia College	59
						4	Bowie State	56

						3	Wingate	85
6	Gardner–Webb	78

3	Wingate	84
			3	Wingate	66

			2	Mars Hill	56

South Central - Abilene, Texas

Location: Moody Coliseum Host: Abilene Christian University

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			1	Abilene Christian	81

			4	Nebraska–Kearney	58
5	Missouri–Rolla	60

4	Nebraska–Kearney	83
						1	Abilene Christian	66

						3	West Texas A&M	39
6	Southwest Baptist	62

3	West Texas A&M	64
			3	West Texas A&M	71

			2	Missouri Southern	59

West - Davis, California

Location: Recreation Hall Host: University of California, Davis

First round Round of 48 March 7			Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8			Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9

			2	UC Davis	80

			3	Chico State	52
6	UC Riverside	59

3	Chico State	68
						2	UC Davis	66

						1	Portland State	70
5	Cal State Dominguez Hills	57

4	Montana State Billings	67
			4	Montana State Billings	73

			1	Portland State	83

Elite Eight - Fargo, North Dakota