The Division II Women's Basketball Committee is emphasizing regional play by awarding a strength-of-schedule bonus point to teams that play nonconference, in-region opponents. The committee reviewed the policy during its annual meeting April 22-25 in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Up to three points can be earned by any team in a season.

"We want teams to stay in their regions and play nonconference opponents," said Elaine Kebbe, athletics director at Belmont Abbey College and chair of the committee. "This will reward those teams."

The Division II Championships Committee already has approved the additional regional-play bonus point for next season but will be asked to consider the Division II Women's Basketball Committee's use of opponent's in-region record to determine strength of schedule in 2003-04 as an additional emphasis on regionalization.

The committee also will recommend awarding points for games against Division I opponents differently in 2004-05. If accepted by the championships committee, points would be broken down according to the Division I opponent's record. The maximum allowance of 15 would be given for a win over a Division I team that is .500 or better and eight points for a win over a losing Division I program. Likewise, a loss to a Division I team that is .500 or better is worth six points and only two if the opponent is under .500.

"We were awarding 15 points for a win over a Division I team, no matter the team's win-loss record," Kebbe said. "This will recognize that in some cases that win is no better than a win against a Division II team, and that there are losses to Division I programs that can hurt the strength of schedule."

The final recommendation from the committee regards conference realignment, moving the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference to the South Atlantic Region and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association to the East Region. This change has been made by other sports committees based on geography of the conferences.