NORTHAMPTON - The Road to the Final Four will go through Ainsworth Gymnasium. For the first time in program history, Smith College will be hosting Sectional Round games of the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship inside Ainsworth Gymnasium beginning on Friday evening. 

The NCAA Division III Committee announced the hosts Sunday morning, as the Pioneers will  join fellow Massachusetts schools Tufts University and Babson College along with Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. 

Head coach Lynn Hersey's squad (28-1) advanced through the NCAA First and Second Round at home this past weekend. Smith defeated SUNY Morrisville 100-50 in the first round and then topped St. John Fisher University 65-64 in the second round. 

On Friday, March 10, action begins at 6:00pm, as No. 17 Wisconsin-Whitewater (23-6) takes on No. 20 Trinity (CT) (24-5). Then, at 8:30pm, the host and fourth-ranked Smith (28-1) take on Mary Washington (24-6). The winners of Friday night's contest will move onto Saturday's quarterfinal bout with a spot in the Final Four at stake. That game will begin at 8:00pm. 

Ticket information will be made available early in the week. 

More information on the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Sectional Round games at Smith College will be posted throughout the week on SmithPioneers.com.

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to smithpioneers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.