Springfield, Mass. - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame today announced the field of teams and groups for the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge. The NCAA women's exempt tournament sponsored by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will conclude on Sunday, December 1, 2013 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass., as the culminating event that also included three previous games held on two campus sites.

Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge - MassMutual Center Schedule:

(Game times will be announced at later date)

University of Connecticut vs. Ohio State University

Marist College vs. Old Dominion University

Monmouth University vs. Boston University

St. Bonaventure University vs. Bowling Green State University

Prior to the neutral site showcase at the MassMutual Center, each team will participate in three scheduled games hosted by the University of Connecticut and Ohio State University. Those games will be played on three consecutive days between November 22-27, 2013.

Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge - Campus Round Pools

"We are excited to announce the first annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Basketball challenge," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. "This is a great platform to celebrate Women's athletics as well as showcase some of the best college basketball programs in the country."

The MAAC will serve as the host conference for this year's event. The MAAC will host the men's and women's basketball championships at the MassMutual Center in Springfield in March 2013 and March 2014 and has developed a strong partnership with the Basketball Hall of Fame, including the opening of a MAAC exhibit in the Hall of Fame museum and hosting the annual men's Basketball Hall of Fame Tip Off Tournament.

"It has been a long term goal of the MAAC to sponsor a multi-team women's basketball tournament similar to those the league does for men's basketball so that the conference can showcase some of the highest caliber hoops programs," notes Richard Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC and former member of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee. "This inaugural field of the Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge is an amazing mix of the strongest programs in the country and some of the best of the mid major ranks. This early season environment is important as teams establish their credentials for post-season selections and seeding.

"It is important that women's basketball teams have the same number of opportunities for exempt events as the men's teams current have and we commend the Basketball Hall of Fame for stepping up and organizing this showcase for women's hoops in Springfield."

Tickets, neutral site game times and campus round dates for the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge will be released at a later date. For more information on the Hall of Fame Challenge, log onto www.hoophall.com.