1972 AIAW National Basketball Championship

The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 16–19, 1972. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.

1972 AIAW National Basketball Championship

Tournament information
Dates	March 16, 1972–March 19, 1972
Administrator	Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
Host(s)	Illinois State University
Venue(s)	Normal, Illinois
Participants	16
Final positions
Champions	Immaculata (1st title)
Runner-up	West Chester State
Tournament statistics
Matches played	23

Sixteen teams participated. Immaculata College (now known as Immaculata University), coached by Hall-of-Famer Cathy Rush, was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament.

Tournament bracket

Main bracket

	First round* March 16, 1972				Quarterfinals March 17, 1972				Semifinals March 18, 1972				Final March 19, 1972
	Immaculata	60
	South Dakota State	47
					Immaculata	49
					Indiana	46
	Indiana	49
	Southern Conn. State	30
									Immaculata	46
									Mississippi St. College for Women	43
	Mississippi St. College for Women	64
	Illinois State	47
					Mississippi St. College for Women	43
					Tennessee-Martin	25
	Tennessee-Martin	53
	Long Beach State	43
													Immaculata	52
													West Chester State	48
	West Chester State	79
	Utah State	45
					West Chester State	66
					Northern Illinois	54
	Northern Illinois	50
	Washington State	43
									West Chester State	62
									Cal State Fullerton	57			Third place
	Cal State Fullerton	65
	Tennessee Tech	56
					Cal State Fullerton	53							Mississippi St. College	42
					Phillips	38							Cal State Fullerton	52
	Phillips	54
	Queens College	43

*Losers in the first round continued in the consolation bracket (below)

Consolation bracket

	First round March 18, 1972					Second round March 18, 1972					Fifth place game March 19, 1972
	South Dakota St.		34
	S. Connecticut St.		72
						S. Connecticut St.		42
						Long Beach State		48
	Illinois State		41
	Long Beach State		59
											Long Beach State		51
											Queens College		55
	Utah State		40
	Washington State		37
						Utah State		57
						Queens College		65
	Tennessee Tech		63
	Queens College		64