NCAA Announces Bridgeport Regional for 2013 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship
MAAC Sports
Edison, NJ - The 2013
NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Bridgeport Regional, hosted by the Metro
Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Fairfield University, will be played on
Saturday, March 30 and Monday, April 1 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport,
CT.
Bridgeport was named to replace Trenton, N.J., which had
been scheduled to host the regional championship. On Oct. 15, the NCAA
relocated six 2013 championships from New Jersey because of a new state law
there allowing sports wagering on professional and collegiate games.
"It was great news to hear that the NCAA has awarded the
2013 NCAA East Regional to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT," noted
MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "The MAAC membership was originally looking
forward to hosting the Sweet 16 Round of the championships in Trenton, and is
pleased it will have that same opportunity in Bridgeport with Fairfield
University. The Webster Bank Arena
stepped up with a competitive bid proposal, local hotels cleared space for the
team travel parties and the City of Bridgeport agreed to support at the same
level that has made the city a destination site for NCAA basketball and ice
hockey championships. It should be a great
two days of college hoops."
Gene Doris, the Fairfield University Director of Athletics
noted, "We are excited that the NCAA has awarded the MAAC the opportunity
to host the 2013 NCAA Women's Basketball Regional at our home court, the
Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, CT. Fairfield University looks forward to
again working with the MAAC and the Arena to bring March Madness to the region."
The NCAA re-awarded the regional championship after New
Jersey passed a law allowing sports wagering on professional and collegiate
athletics. The NCAA championships sports wagering policy strictly prohibits the
conducting of any championship session in a state with legal wagering that is
based on single-game betting. Single-game betting is defined as wagering that
involves either a money line or point spread wager. This policy is in place to
ensure the integrity of the game, provide consistency in awarding championships
and to address concerns for student-athletes' well-being.
"Bridgeport has proven to be a great host for our
championship in the past and we are excited to be making a return this March,"
Carolayne Henry said, chair of the Division I Women's Basketball Committee and
senior associate commissioner of the Mountain West Conference. "We appreciate
both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Fairfield University stepping
forward to host because of this special circumstance and know our
student-athletes and fans will enjoy a first-class experience."
Webster Bank Arena has previously hosted the 2012 NCAA Ice
Hockey Championship and the 2011 MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament.