# 1996 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament

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.
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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Shippensburg | 87 | | | |
| | | | | Pitt Johnstown | 77 | | | |
| | Kutztown | 52 | | Pitt Johnstown | 77 | | | |
| | Pitt Johnstown | 63 | | | | | | |
| | Pitt Johnstown | 63 | | | | 1 | Shippensburg | 79 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Salem-Teikyo | 68 |
| 6 | Longwood | 55 | | | | | | | 3 | Salem-Teikyo | 68 |
| 3 | Salem-Teikyo | 86 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Bellarmine | 89 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Southern Indiana | 80 | | | |
| 4 | Oakland | 83 | 5 | Southern Indiana | 80 | | | |
| 5 | Southern Indiana | 84 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Southern Indiana | 84 | | | | 1 | Bellarmine | 55 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Northern Michigan | 84 |
| 3 | IPFW | 71 | | | | | | | 2 | Northern Michigan | 84 |
| 6 | Lake Superior State | 79 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 2 | South Dakota State | 55 | | | |
| | | | 3 | North Dakota | 68 | | | |
| 6 | Metro State | 47 | 3 | North Dakota | 68 | | | |
| 3 | North Dakota | 71 | | | | | | |
| 3 | North Dakota | 71 | | | | 3 | North Dakota | 77 |
| | | | | | | 1 | North Dakota State | 89 |
| 4 | Minnesota Duluth | 65 | | | | | | | 1 | North Dakota State | 89 |
| 5 | Northern Colorado | 60 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | First round Round of 48 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 10 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 10 |
| | | | 2 | Stonehill | 60 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Saint Rose | 68 | | | |
| 6 | American International | 61 | 3 | Saint Rose | 68 | | | |
| 3 | Saint Rose | 77 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Saint Rose | 77 | | | | 3 | Saint Rose | 58 |
| | | | | | | 1 | Bentley | 63 |
| 4 | Bridgeport | 82 | | | | | | | 1 | Bentley | 63 |
| 5 | Bryant | 79 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | 2 | Florida Southern | 97 | | | |
| | | | Central Arkansas | 93 | | | |
| Central Arkansas | 68 | | Central Arkansas | 93 | | | |
| Fort Valley State | 55 | | | | | | |
| Fort Valley State | 55 | | | | 2 | Florida Southern | 78 |
| | | | | | 1 | Delta State | 96 |
| Albany State | 63 | | | | | | | 1 | Delta State | 96 |
| Rollins | 62 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Shaw | 61 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Bowie State | 70 | | | |
| 4 | Bowie State | 74 | 4 | Bowie State | 70 | | | |
| 5 | Georgia College | 59 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Georgia College | 59 | | | | 4 | Bowie State | 56 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Wingate | 85 |
| 6 | Gardner–Webb | 78 | | | | | | | 3 | Wingate | 85 |
| 3 | Wingate | 84 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 1 | Abilene Christian | 81 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Nebraska–Kearney | 58 | | | |
| 5 | Missouri–Rolla | 60 | 4 | Nebraska–Kearney | 58 | | | |
| 4 | Nebraska–Kearney | 83 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Nebraska–Kearney | 83 | | | | 1 | Abilene Christian | 66 |
| | | | | | | 3 | West Texas A&M | 39 |
| 6 | Southwest Baptist | 62 | | | | | | | 3 | West Texas A&M | 39 |
| 3 | West Texas A&M | 64 | | | | | | |
| 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 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | First round Round of 48 March 7 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 8 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 | Regional finals Sweet 16 March 9 |
| | | | 2 | UC Davis | 80 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Chico State | 52 | | | |
| 6 | UC Riverside | 59 | 3 | Chico State | 52 | | | |
| 3 | Chico State | 68 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Chico State | 68 | | | | 2 | UC Davis | 66 |
| | | | | | | 1 | Portland State | 70 |
| 5 | Cal State Dominguez Hills | 57 | | | | | | | 1 | Portland State | 70 |
| 4 | Montana State Billings | 67 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Montana State Billings | 67 | 4 | Montana State Billings | 73 | | | |
| | | | 1 | Portland State | 83 | | | |

## Elite Eight - Fargo, North Dakota

Location: Bison Sports Arena Host: North Dakota State University
| National quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20 | National quarterfinals Elite Eight March 20 | National semifinals Final Four March 21 | National semifinals Final Four March 21 | National championship Third Place Game March 23 | National championship Third Place Game March 23 |
| Shippensburg | 78 | | | | |
| Wingate | 64 | | | | |
| Wingate | 64 | Shippensburg | 84 | | |
| | | Abilene Christian | 81 | | |
| Abilene Christian | 81 | Abilene Christian | 81 | | |
| Northern Michigan | 76 | | | | |
| Northern Michigan | 76 | | | Shippensburg | 78 |
| | | | | North Dakota State | 104 |
| Delta State | 86 | | | | | North Dakota State | 104 |
| Bentley | 69 | | |
| Bentley | 69 | Delta State | 72 | Third Place Game | Third Place Game |
| | | North Dakota State | 93 |
| North Dakota State | 91 | North Dakota State | 93 | | |
| Portland State | 65 | | | | |

## All-tournament team

* Kasey Morlock, North Dakota State
* Lori Roufs, North Dakota State
* Jenni Rademacher, North Dakota State
* Jennifer Clarkson, Abilene Christian
* Caroline Omamo, Abilene Christian