# 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship

The 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship was held on March 18–29, 1981. Twenty-four teams were invited, with eight teams receiving first round byes. First round games were played at on-campus locations. Louisiana Tech University was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament. Louisiana Tech finished undefeated (34–0), becoming the third undefeated national champion.
The host site for the Final Four was Eugene, Oregon, and the championship game was again broadcast live on NBC.
This was the first year that the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsored a competing women's basketball championship for its collegiate members and the last year before the NCAA began sponsoring tournaments for its three divisions and their members.

## Opening rounds
### Central Regional

| First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 |
| Jackson State | Jackson State | 68 | | | | | | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota | 65 | Jackson State | Jackson State | 50 | | | |
| | | | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech | 97 | | | |
| | | | | | | Louisiana Tech | Louisiana Tech | 87 |
| | | | | | | UCLA | UCLA | 54 |
| | | | Kansas | Kansas | 71 | | | |
| UCLA | UCLA | 72 | UCLA | UCLA | 73 | | | |
| Oregon State | Oregon State | 65 | | | | | | |

### West Regional

| First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 |
| Oregon | Oregon | 75 | | | | | | |
| Colorado | Colorado | 74 | Oregon | Oregon | 64 | | | |
| | | | Southern California | Southern California | 67 | | | |
| | | | | | | Southern California | Southern California | 67 |
| | | | | | | Cheyney State | Cheyney State | 58 |
| | | | Cheyney State | Cheyney State | 88 | | | |
| North Carolina State | North Carolina State | 95 | North Carolina State | North Carolina State | 72 | | | |
| Georgia State | Georgia State | 86 | | | | | | |

### South Regional

| First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 |
| Illinois State | Illinois State | 66 | | | | | | |
| Texas | Texas | 63 | Illinois State | Illinois State | 63 | | | |
| | | | Tennessee | Tennessee | 78 | | | |
| | | | | | | Tennessee | Tennessee | 79 |
| | | | | | | Maryland | Maryland | 67 |
| | | | Maryland | Maryland | 83 | | | |
| Kentucky | Kentucky | 81 | Kentucky | Kentucky | 82 | | | |
| Syracuse | Syracuse | 80 | | | | | | |

### East Regional

| First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | First Round March 18/19, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Second Round March 21, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 | Quarterfinals March 24, 1981 |
| Stephen F. Austin | Stephen F. Austin | 88 | | | | | | |
| Northwestern | Northwestern | 67 | Stephen F. Austin | Stephen F. Austin | 54 | | | |
| | | | Old Dominion | Old Dominion | 60 | | | |
| | | | | | | Old Dominion | Old Dominion | 76 |
| | | | | | | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 60 |
| | | | Long Beach State | Long Beach State | 77 | | | |
| Rutgers | Rutgers | 99 | Rutgers | Rutgers | 73 | | | |
| Clemson | Clemson | 76 | | | | | | |

### Final Four – Eugene, OR

| Semifinals March 27, 1981 | Semifinals March 27, 1981 | Final March 29, 1981 | Final March 29, 1981 |
| Louisiana Tech | 66 |
| Southern California | 50 | | |
| Southern California | 50 | Louisiana Tech | 79 |
| | | Tennessee | 59 |
| Tennessee | 68 | Tennessee | 59 |
| Old Dominion | 65 | | |
| Old Dominion | 65 | Third place | Third place |
| | | Southern California | 65 |
| | | Old Dominion | 68 |