In 1992, the NAIA basketball world split into Division I and Division II. In 2018, the NAIA National Convention was held, and The Council of Presidents approved the motion to merge. After the 2020 basketball season abruptly ended, NAIA merged back to one division.

In 2019, NAIA made the Tyson Events Center, Sioux City, and the Auditorium in Kansas City, Montana the official locations for tournament play. Following this change, instead of 32 teams making it to the National Tournament, 16 teams will make it. Prior to the merge, often teams would have to win five games in six or seven days to win the national title. Now, that is nothing to worry about.

Previously, NAIA Division I allowed 11 scholarships to be given out, and Division II was allowed six. After the merge, the limit was changed to eight scholarships per NAIA basketball team.

Ranked first in the nation for NAIA women’s basketball is Thomas Moore, KY. Last year, Thomas Moore lost to Westmont, Calif in the championship game. This year, Westmont is ranked fifth in the nation.

In the GPAC Conference, Morningside is the only team ranked in the top 10. Morningside sits at number 8 heading into the Conference Tournament. The only other teams in the GPAC found in the top 25 poll are Northwestern and Concordia. Northwestern sits at 14th, while Concordia sits at 19th.

GPAC Conference tournament begins Wednesday, February 23rd. Morningside (#1) will play Hastings (#8). The first round of GPAC tournament has been posted.