WASHINGTON (March 15, 2026) – The NCAA Women's Basketball Committee unveiled its 68-team bracket and the Howard University women's basketball team drew Ohio State in the First Round. The announcement came Sunday night during the selection show on ESPN.
HU takes on the Buckeyes Saturday (March 21) in Columbia, S.C., live on ESPN. This will be the first meeting between Howard and Ohio State.
Saturday (March 14), the Bison won a conference-record 12
th Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title after knocking off Norfolk State, 53-46, inside the Norfolk Scope Arena.
Overall, this will be Howard's seventh NCAA appearance.
Howard is led by MEAC Player of the Year senior forward
Zennia Thomas (Cleveland) and Rookie of the Year
Ariella Henigan (Chicago).
Bison head coach
Ty Grace, MEAC Coach of the Year, is in her 11
th season at the helm.
Ohio State (26-7, 13-5 Big Ten) fell in the Big Ten semifinal round to top-seeded UCLA, 72-62. Sophomore guard Jaloni Cambridge spearheads the Buckeyes, earning a spot on the ESPN All-American Second Team and received an honorable mention from USA Today.
The winner faces either No. 6 Notre Dame or No. 11 Fairfield Monday (March 23).
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
