INDIANAPOLIS - Incoming Great Midwest Athletic Conference member institution Ohio Dominican University was selected to host the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship Elite Eight tournament following a Tuesday announcement.

ODU will join the expanded 13-member Great Midwest league for the 2017-18 academic year. The Panthers served as this year's 2017 host in Alumni Hall with the road to the women's basketball national title running through Columbus.

The championship events consists of the Elite Eight, semifinals and championship game and will take place in ODU's Alumni Hall.

The 2019 Elite Eight will be hosted between March 26-29, while the 2021 Elite Elight will be hosted between March 23-26.

Ohio Dominican partnered with the Greater Columbus Sports Commission to submit the bid. Columbus has turned into a hub for women's basketball championships, with Ohio State serving as the host for the 2018 Final Four.

ODU is the only Division II institution in the state to serve as a host for a men's or women's basketball championship.

"We're excited to welcome the NCAA back to Columbus for the Division II Women's Basketball National Championships," said Jeff Blair, Ohio Dominican's Athletic Director. "It's a tremendous honor for us to host this event again. I'd like to thank the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the community for all of their support in giving the participants an exceptional championship experience last month, and we're looking forward to more terrific tournaments in 2019 and 2021."

"The 2017 Elite Eight was a major success thanks to the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, the Ohio Dominican community, and our volunteers," said Lynsey Warren, Ohio Dominican's Women's Basketball Coach. "With the experience from that event, I can only image we can make the next Elite Eight even better, and the Ohio Dominican women's basketball program is absolutely looking forward to the opportunity."