The Peach Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament is set to tip off this week, with quarterfinal games scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th. Eight teams will compete for the conference championship, with the semifinals and final taking place on Saturday, March 7th and Sunday, March 8th, respectively, hosted by the highest remaining seed. The tournament promises exciting matchups as teams battle for a chance to claim the title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Columbus State University enters the tournament as the top seed, a position they haven’t held since 2017. The Cougars boast an impressive 24-3 overall record and a 18-2 mark within the Peach Belt Conference, earning them the PBC Regular Season title earlier this month. Currently ranked #11 nationally by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and #3 in the NCAA Southeast Region poll, Columbus State is riding a 12-game winning streak, having lost only one game so far in 2026. They will host eighth-seeded Lander on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. In Columbus, Georgia.
The University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) secured the #2 seed and will be making its first-ever appearance in the PBC Tournament. The Sand Sharks finished the regular season with a 19-10 overall record and a 15-5 record in conference play, earning a #10 ranking in the latest NCAA Southeast Region poll. USCB will host seventh-seeded Georgia College & State University (GCSU) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. In Bluffton, South Carolina.
Tiebreaker Determines Third and Fourth Seeds
The third and fourth seeds were determined by a complex tiebreaker procedure after both North Georgia and Augusta finished the regular season with identical 13-7 records in conference play. The initial step involved head-to-head results, with Augusta winning the first matchup on January 21st and North Georgia winning the second on February 25th. As the tie remained, the conference compared each team’s record against the highest seed not involved in the tie – Columbus State. North Georgia held a 1-1 record against the Cougars, while Augusta went 0-2, giving North Georgia the edge and the #3 seed. Augusta will be the #4 seed.
North Georgia, the defending tournament champions, closed out the regular season with an 18-12 overall record and a 13-7 conference record, earning a #8 ranking in the NCAA Southeast Region poll. They will host sixth-seeded Clayton State University on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. In Dahlonega, Georgia.
Augusta University, the #4 seed, concluded the regular season with an 18-9 overall record and a 13-7 conference record. They will host fifth-seeded Middle Georgia State University, who are completing their inaugural season of NCAA Division II competition with a 17-10 overall record and a 10-10 record in PBC play. The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. At Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta, Georgia.
Final Teams Secure Tournament Spots
The final three spots in the tournament were hotly contested heading into the final weekend of regular season play. Clayton State and GCSU secured their places in the tournament with key wins, both finishing with an 8-12 conference record. Clayton State won both head-to-head matchups against GCSU (on December 3rd and January 23rd), earning the #6 seed, while GCSU will be the #7 seed. Lander rounded out the eight-team field with a 7-13 conference record, earning the #8 seed.
Here’s a complete gaze at the tournament bracket:
- #1 Columbus State
- #2 USC Beaufort
- #3 North Georgia
- #4 Augusta
- #5 Middle Georgia
- #6 Clayton State
- #7 GCSU
- #8 Lander
Quarterfinal Schedule
Wednesday, March 4th:
- #1 Columbus State vs. #8 Lander – Columbus, Ga., 5:30 p.m.
- #2 USC Beaufort vs. #7 GCSU – Bluffton, S.C., 5:30 p.m.
- #3 North Georgia vs. #6 Clayton State – Dahlonega, Ga., 5:30 p.m.
- #4 Augusta vs. #5 Middle Georgia – Augusta, Ga., 7:30 p.m.
The winners of the quarterfinal matchups will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, March 7th, with the championship game scheduled for Sunday, March 8th. Both the semifinals and final will be hosted by the highest remaining seed. Fans can find more information about the tournament, including live video and statistics, on the official Peach Belt Conference website.
The PBC Women’s Basketball Tournament promises a thrilling conclusion to the regular season, with several teams vying for the conference championship and a coveted spot in the NCAA tournament. The next update will come following the quarterfinal games on Wednesday, March 4th, as the field narrows and the path to the championship becomes clearer.
Share your predictions and thoughts on the tournament in the comments below!
