SoCon suspends spring sports, basketball's WNIT called off due to COVID-19 fears

Southern Conference
Southern Conference

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The Southern Conference is being proactive by suspending all athletic competition through March 30 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19 disease) pandemic, commissioner Jim Schaus announced Thursday.

"Our membership feels that it is imperative to protect the health and welfare of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and fans by suspending athletic competition due to this very serious virus," Schaus stated in a release.

The decision was reached with the input of NCAA, conference and school administrators. The SoCon, in its statement, said it will closely monitor the situation, as well as national, state and local policies regarding the coronavirus, and re-evaluate the potential for resumption of competition.

Also as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's women's basketball season is over.

The Mocs had earned an invitation to the Women's National Invitation Tournament after entering the SoCon tournament with the No. 2 seed, but the WNIT announced Thursday, just as the NCAA did, that its event has been canceled.

(Read more coronavirus coverage here)

"It is with deep regret that officials with the Women's National Invitation Tournament have announced the 2020 Postseason WNIT has been canceled in response to public health concerns over the coronavirus," the release said.

"The decision to cancel the 23rd annual Postseason WNIT follows developments that shook the world of men's and women's college sports on Wednesday, March 12. The NCAA canceled the men's and women's postseason basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships.

"We know it is very disappointing to our teams, and we also know everyone is rightly concerned about the health and safety of those involved," WNIT executive director Renee Carlson said. "This decision is about protecting our communities and our nation."

UTC, which lost in the quarterfinal round of the SoCon tournament, was part of the league's first three-way split of the women's basketball regular-season title, along with Samford and UNC Greensboro.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.

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