BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The bracket for the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship is set following the conclusion of the regular season on Wednesday night. First-round action begins on Saturday, March 7.
 
Navy (21-7, 16-2 PL) secured the No. 1 seed in the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship on Feb. 21 and clinched its first outright regular-season title since the 2013-14 season on Feb. 28. The Midshipmen’s 16-2 League record marks their best finish since the Patriot League expanded to 10 teams in the 2013-14.
 
Holy Cross (20-9, 14-4 PL) earned the No. 2 seed with its victory over Boston University in the regular-season finale, while Army West Point (23-6, 14-4 PL) claimed the No. 3 seed. Defending Patriot League champion Lehigh (15-13, 11-7 PL) secured the No. 4 seed as the Mountain Hawks look to become the first team to win back-to-back Patriot League titles since Holy Cross in 2023 and 2024.
 
No. 8 Boston University (10-19, 6-12 PL) will host No. 9 American (7-22, 5-13 PL) in Saturday’s first-round matchup at 2 p.m., with the winner traveling to Annapolis, Md., to face the top-seeded Midshipmen in the quarterfinals.
 
No. 10 Colgate (6-23, 2-16 PL) will travel to No. 7 Bucknell (11-18, 7-11 PL) in Saturday’s other first-round game at 4 p.m., with the winner advancing to face second-seeded Holy Cross in Monday’s quarterfinal round. Both games will be available on ESPN+.
 
In Monday’s quarterfinals, No. 3 Army West Point (23-6, 14-4 PL) will host No. 6 Lafayette (11-18, 7-11 PL), while No. 5 Loyola Maryland (12-17, 8-10 PL) will travel to No. 4 Lehigh (15-13, 11-7 PL). Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
For more information on the 2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship, CLICK HERE.
 
2026 PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women’s Basketball Championship

First-Round	Saturday, March 7 – Hosted by Higher Seed	Time	Coverage
Game 1	No. 9 American at No. 8 Boston University	2 p.m.	ESPN+
Game 2	No. 10 Colgate at No. 7 Bucknell	4 p.m.	ESPN+
Quarterfinals	Monday, March 9 – Hosted by Higher Seed	Time	Coverage
Game 3	Winner of Game 1 at No. 1 Navy	7 p.m.	ESPN+
Game 4	No. 5 Loyola Maryland at No. 4 Lehigh	6 p.m.	ESPN+
Game 5	No. 6 Lafayette at No. 3 Army West Point	6 p.m.	ESPN+
Game 6	Winner of Game 2 at No. 2 Holy Cross	6 p.m.	ESPN+
Semifinals	Wednesday, March 12 – Hosted by Higher Seed	Time	Coverage
Game 7	Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4	TBD	ESPN+
Game 8	Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6	TBD	ESPN+
Championship	Sunday, March 15 – Hosted by Higher Seed	Time	Coverage
Game 9	Lowest-remaining seed at Highest-remaining seed	Noon	CBS Sports Network

 
AT LAFAYETTE (11-18, 7-11 PL) 66, AT COLGATE (6-23, 2-16 PL) 55
Kirby Sports Center/ Easton, Pa.                                           6 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette used a strong third quarter to pull away from Colgate and secure a 66-55 victory, earning the No. 6 seed and first-round bye in the Patriot League Tournament.
*Lafayette built an early advantage, knocking down three 3-pointers in the first quarter to take a 17-11 lead after the opening period.
*Colgate surged in the second quarter, shooting 9-of-15 from the field to take a 33-30 lead before Lafayette closed the half ahead, 35-33.
*The Leopards seized control in the third quarter, outscoring the Raiders 20-12 and stretching the lead to 55-45 entering the fourth quarter.
*Lafayette continued to control the game in the fourth quarter defensively, holding Colgate to 4-of-17 shooting from the field in the final frame to seal the win.
*Sophomore guard Talia Zurinskas led Lafayette with 21 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field, while junior guard Rosie Scognamiglio added 11 points.
*Junior guard Ella Meabon paced Colgate with 16 points, while senior forward Grace Klag added 14 points and nine rebounds.
RECAPS: COLGATE | LAFAYETTE
 
HOLY CROSS (20-9, 14-4 PL) 64, AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY (10-19, 6-12 PL) 58
Case Gymnasium/Boston, Mass.                                           6 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
BOSTON, Mass. – Holy Cross erased a 12-point deficit with a dominant fourth quarter to defeat Boston University, 64-58, and clinch the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League Tournament.
*Holy Cross jumped out to an early lead, shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 4-of-6 from 3-point range in the first quarter to take an 18-15 advantage.
*Boston University responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 17-10, knocking down three 3-pointers in the period, to carry a 32-28 lead into halftime.
*The Terriers extended the margin in the third quarter, shooting 7-of-13 from the field to build a 48-39 advantage entering the final frame.
*Holy Cross mounted a decisive comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring Boston University 25-10 while holding the Terriers to 4-of-15 shooting from the field.
*Senior guard Mary-Elizabeth Donnelly led Holy Cross with a career-high 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range, while senior forward Meg Cahalan added 18 points and eight rebounds.
*Junior guard Bella McLaughlin paced Boston University with 17 points, while junior guard Inés Monteagudo added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range.
RECAPS: HOLY CROSS | BOSTON UNIVERSITY
 
ARMY WEST POINT (23-6, 14-4 PL) 56, AT BUCKNELL (11-18, 7-11 PL) 43
Sojka Pavilion/ Lewisburg, Pa.                                              6 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Army West Point used balanced scoring and a strong fourth quarter to defeat Bucknell, 56-43, at Sojka Pavilion.
*Army West Point set the tone early, shooting 6-of-12 (50 percent) from the field in the first quarter to build a 16-11 lead after the opening period.
*Bucknell trimmed the deficit in the second quarter, outscoring the Black Knights 12-10, but Army West Point carried a 26-23 advantage into halftime.
*The Black Knights extended their lead in the third quarter, as junior guard Soleil Montrose connected on a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to give Army West Point a 41-36 lead.
*Army West Point closed the game with a dominant defensive effort, holding Bucknell to 2-of-12 (16.7 percent) shooting in the fourth quarter while pushing the lead to as many as 13 points.
*Senior forward Kya Smith led the Black Knights with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while senior guard Reese Ericson added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
*Sophomore guard Mariah Hardy paced Bucknell with nine points and five rebounds, while junior forward Tuana Coskun also added nine points for the Bison.
RECAPS: ARMY WEST POINT | BUCKNELL
 
AMERICAN (7-22, 5-13 PL) 62, AT LEHIGH (15-13, 11-7 PL) 60
Stabler Arena/Bethlehem, Pa.                                              6 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – American held off a late Lehigh rally to earn a 62-60 road victory at Stabler Arena on Wednesday night.
*American built early momentum, shooting 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) in the second quarter to take a 34-24 halftime lead.
*Lehigh responded in the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles 17-10 and trimming the deficit to 44-41 entering the fourth.
*The teams traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter, with five ties and three lead changes highlighting a back-and-forth final period.
*American regained control in the final minute, converting late free throws and defensive stops to preserve the two-point win.
*Freshman forward Charlotte Tuhy led American with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while senior guard Laura Nogues added 13 points for the Eagles.
*Senior forward Lily Fandre paced Lehigh with 23 points, while first-year forward Leia Edwards added 13 points and four rebounds for the Mountain Hawks.
RECAPS: AMERICAN | LEHIGH
 
AT NAVY (21-7, 16-2 PL) 72, LOYOLA MARYLAND (12-17, 8-10 PL) 50
Alumni Hall/Annapolis, Md.                                      7 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy built an early lead and used a dominant second half to defeat Loyola Maryland, 72-50, at Alumni Hall.
*Navy set the tone early, shooting 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the field and knocking down three 3-pointers in the first quarter to take an 23-17 lead after the opening period.
*The Mids opened up the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Greyhounds 23-6 led by freshman guard Zoe Mesuch with eight points to take a 46-23 lead into the break.
*Navy was able to keep its cushion in the second half, holding Loyola Maryland to 9-of-27 from the field and 1-of-5 from three-point range to seal the win.
*Mesuch led the Mids with 21 points on 8-of-12 from the floor, while sophomore guard Julianna Almeida added 12 points and freshman guard Quinn Boettinger led the team with eight rebounds.
*Senior guard Amandine Amorich paced the Greyhounds with 14 points, while graduate forward Lex Therien added 10 points.
RECAPS: LOYOLA MARYLAND | NAVY
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.