2024 D2CCA TIP-OFF CLASSIC HOSTED IN CONJUCNTION WITH THE MIAA

NOVEMBER 2-3

CIVIC ARENA

BUY TICKETS

The 2024-25 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball season will start in St. Joseph, Missouri with the 2024 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic. The MIAA is set to host the premier event with the St. Joseph Sports Commission at Civic Arena, November 2-3.

The eight-game, two-day event will showcase eight of the top NCAA Division II women’s basketball programs from the Central, Midwest and South Central regions. The field of teams represents five different states and five different conferences and includes 2024 Elite Eight participants Ferris State and Texas Woman’s – the defending national runner-up.

“The last two D2CCA tip-off events have included that season’s eventual national champion,” said MIAA Deputy Commissioner Amber Feldman. “We are looking forward to continuing to see the high level of competition that these teams bring to the court to kick off the DII Women’s Basketball season.”

Civic Arena has hosted six NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships, including the 2023 and 2024 tournaments (2003, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2023, 2024). The 4,200-seat multi-purpose arena was built in 1980 in St. Joseph, Missouri, in the heart of the MIAA footprint. The facility recently underwent a multi-million dollar aesthetic renovation which included the additions of a new basketball court, new basketball hoops, updated seating in the venue, a new center-hung LED scoreboard and new LED scorers tables.

“With St. Joseph’s strong partnership with the MIAA and our history of hosting elite level women’s basketball college basketball in Civic Arena, we look forward to welcoming some of NCAA Division II’s best programs back to St. Joseph this fall to tip off the season!” said Brett Esely, St. Joseph’s Director of Development and Sports Commission.

Tickets for the event will be available for purchase online in advance and will also be available for purchase at the Civic Arena box office. Live coverage will also be available for all eight games, exclusively on The MIAA Network.

Below is the official game schedule for the event and a list of the teams set to compete in the 2024 D2CCA Tip-Off Classic.

 OFFICIAL GAME SCHEDULE 
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Game 1 – 11:30 AM | Central Missouri vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 2 – 1:30 PM | Pittsburg State vs. Ferris State
Game 3 – 3:30 PM | Northwest Missouri vs. Ashland
Game 4 – 5:30 PM | Missouri Southern vs. Texas Woman’s

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Game 1 – 11:30 AM | Pittsburg State vs. Southern Nazarene
Game 2 – 1:30 PM | Central Missouri vs. Ferris State
Game 3 – 3:30 PM | Missouri Southern vs. Ashland
Game 4 – 5:30 PM | Northwest Missouri vs. Texas Woman’s
(All Game Times Are Listed In Central Time)

 PARTICIPATING TEAMS 
ASHLAND UNIVERSITY EAGLES
Location: Ashland, Ohio
Conference: Great Midwest Athletic Conference
2023-24 Season Record: 31-2
The 2023-24 season came to an end for the Eagles during the Midwest Regional Semifinals against Ferris State, following GMAC regular season and tournament titles.

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES
Location: Warrensburg, Missouri
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
2023-24 Season Record: 21-8
The Jennies completed their 2023-24 season in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA tournament.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
Location: Big Rapids, Michigan
Conference: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
2023-24 Season Record: 26-6
The Bulldogs completed their 2023-24 season in the national semifinals, falling to fellow tip-off participant, Texas Woman’s.

MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY LIONS
Location: Joplin, MO
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
2023-24 Season Record: 20-9
The Lions completed their 2023-24 season in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA tournament, falling to eventual tournament champion, Pittsburg State.

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY BEARCATS
Location: Maryville, MO
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
2023-24 Season Record: 23-8
The Bearcats finished their 2023-24 season in the NCAA Central Region first round.

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY GORILLAS
Location: Pittsburg, KS
Conference: Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
2023-24 Season Record: 24-8
The Gorillas completed their 2023-24 season in the NCAA Central Region first round after claiming the MIAA tournament championship.

SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM
Location: Bethany, OK
Conference: Great American Conference
2023-24 Season Record: 30-3
The SNU Crimson Storm ended their 2023-24 campaign in the Central Regional final of the NCAA Tournament against eventual national champion Minnesota State.

TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY PIONEERS
Location: Denton, TX
Conference: Lone Star Conference
2023-24 Season Record: 34-5
Texas Woman’s finished their 2023-24 season as the NCAA Division II Runner-Up, falling to Minnesota State. The Pioneers also claimed the Lone Star Conference regular season and tournament titles.

The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau.