2016-2017 GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships Tickets

The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) is a Division II college athletics conference that covers the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. The GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are held annually, showcasing some of the best basketball talent in the region. The 2016-2017 season was no exception, as both the men's and women's tournaments were highly competitive.

The Women's Championship was held at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska from March 2nd – March 4th, 2017. The teams competing included Central Washington University, the University of Alaska Anchorage, Montana State University Billings, Saint Martin's University, Seattle Pacific University, Simon Fraser University, Western Oregon University and Northwest Nazarene University. The reigning champions, the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, won their third consecutive title by defeating Montana State Billings 76-47 in the championship game.

In the Men's Championship, which was held at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Washington from March 2nd – March 5th, 2017, eight teams came to compete. They were Alaska Fairbanks, Central Washington, Montana State Billings, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin's, Seattle Pacific, Western Oregon, and host team Western Washington University. In an exciting championship game, it all came down to the final seconds as Western Washington defeated Saint Martin's with a score of 60-58 and earned a trip to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball West Regional.

The GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championship represents the pinnacle of the basketball season for the participating schools and student-athletes. The games provide an opportunity for fans and supporters to witness high-level competition showcase the talent and skillets of student-athletes. There is a palpable sense of excitement around these championships, as players strive to win and advance towards a championship title. Moreover, the competition aids in creating a sense of camaraderie among students, faculty, and staff of universities and colleges.

Aside from the excitement of the games, the championships offer a chance for fans to gain insight into basketball trends. They allow viewers to make predictions about how the rest of the regional tournament may play out, giving them bases to draw up extrapolative projections which can potentially transcend the GNAC and be applied to other regional tournaments.

The GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Congress is an example of how basketball can unite people through sporting competition over the course of several days. These tournaments represent a precious opportunity for student-athletes to showcase their talents while striving to achieve alpha status as champions, on one of the biggest stages available at the Division II level.