LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Already set to come to Albany in March, the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Regionals will return to the Times Union Center in 2018. The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee awarded 2016-18 regional sites Thursday and Siena College along with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will co-host the event for the second time in 2018 after first hosting the regionals this spring.

"Siena is excited to once again partner with the MAAC, Times Union Center and Albany County to bring NCAA Women's Basketball to Capital Region," said Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio "This is a great opportunity for people from other parts of the country to get to know Albany and to find out how passionate the community is about college basketball."

Siena and the MAAC will get their first opportunity to host the NCAA Women's Basketball Regionals this spring. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com and at the Times Union Center box office for the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Albany Regional which features semifinal games on Saturday, Mar. 28 at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with the regional final set for Monday, Mar. 30 at 7 p.m.

"We are excited to host this event along with Siena College again," noted MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor, Esq. "Being host to this event shows our commitment to the city from our league. Albany is a premiere site for NCAA competition."

2015 and 2018 will mark the first and second times that the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Regionals will be held in Albany. This spring will be the first time that NCAA Division I Tournament basketball will be held in the Capital Region since the 2003 Men's East Regional.

"On behalf of SMG and the Times Union Center, we are honored to receive the award today from the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee to host the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball East Regional Championship," added Bob Belber, SMG Regional General Manager of the Times Union Center. "Our market has a long history of hosting NCAA Championship events and we look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with the NCAA."

Siena and the Times Union Center are also scheduled to host the next three MAAC Tournament Championships from 2015-17.

"It is so encouraging to be a part of a conference and College that support women's basketball on a national level," commented Siena Women's Basketball Head Coach Ali Jaques. "To have the chance to host an NCAA Regional in the Capital District is great for girls and women's basketball I am confident that our community will support it fully."