The Division II Women’s Basketball Committee conducted preliminary discussions at its recent meeting about awarding the Elite Eight to one site for a four-year cycle.

The committee has been awarding the finals site in two-year cycles. For example, the 2010 and 2011 Elite Eights will be played in St. Joseph’s, Missouri, with Missouri Western State as the host institution.

The rationale for the possible change would be to enhance the student-athlete experience by sustaining growth and interest of the championship in a particular community.

“Putting on a great championship encompasses everything from hotel availability to facilities to staffing and everything else that goes into a positive experience,” said committee Chair Ann Walker, associate director of athletics at Nova Southeastern. “It also includes the other piece, which is putting people in the stands. Looking at geographical areas that are supportive of women’s basketball or communities that have proven to support the sport would be considered.”

Walker emphasized that the discussion is only at a conceptual stage.

In other action, committee members voted to change the tape-exchange policy between teams before regional competition.

Teams will be required to provide the upcoming opponent with a game tape of their last contest. Previously, teams were required to provide the opposition with a tape of the contest against the last opponent they played that was not selected to the championship.

“We believe this is easier, and there won’t be confusion about what tape people should be sending out,” Walker said.