NEW HAVEN, Conn. (March 16, 2026) – Holy Family University, an at-large representative from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, won the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship tournament with a 78-62 victory over Daemen University on Monday night at Southern Connecticut State University’s James Moore Field House.

Holy Family (30-4) is the first East Region champion from the CACC in women’s basketball. The No. 5 seed Tigers defeated No. 4 seed Assumption University in the first round on Mar. 13, then topped top seed and region host Southern Connecticut State the next night before Monday’s win over No. 3 seed Daemen.

The Tigers advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight, to be held March 24, 26, and 28 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pa. The eight qualifying teams will be seeded by the Division II Women’s Basketball Committee.

Holy Family led for almost the entire game on Monday. After Daemen scored the first field goal, HFU exploded for the next 16 points. The Tigers were up, 20-8, after one period and 37-19 at halftime. The Wildcats cut the deficit to nine points on two occasions during the second half but never drew closer. Ella Brown came off the bench to lead Holy Family with 18 points. Kaelah Carter and Skyler Searfoss scored 14 each.

Searfoss, who netted 23 points during the semifinal victory over SCSU, was named the East Regional’s Most Outstanding Player. Carter and Taylor Hinkle also represented Holy Family on the All-Tournament Team. HFU is ranked No. 21 and Daemen No. 9 in the most recent national Division II coaches poll. Daemen, the East Coast Conference champion, completed its season with a record of 26-4.

Holy Family was playing in the fifth NCAA regional final in program history. The Tigers join the 2010-11 Bloomfield College men as the only CACC teams to advance to an NCAA Division II basketball Elite Eight.

Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.