The Women's College Basketball Belt · season
The 1996–97 season
35 belt games · 7 title changesTennessee carried the belt into the 1996–97 season. It changed hands 7 times among 7 franchises, 1 of those in the playoffs, and Tennessee finished the season with it. Most defenses: Old Dominion, 20.
Who held it, in order
TennesseeLouisiana TechDePaulAuburnGeorge MasonJames MadisonOld DominionTennessee
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 298 | Nov 15, 1996 | Tennessee beat Austin Peay 80–59 | Defense |
| 299 | Nov 17, 1996 | Tennessee beat Kansas 79–60 | Defense |
| 300 | Nov 19, 1996 | Tennessee beat Notre Dame 72–59 (Preseason WNIT - semifinal (Ruston, LA) | Defense |
| 301 | Nov 20, 1996 | Louisiana Tech beat Tennessee 66–64 (Preseason WNIT - final (Ruston, LA) | Title change |
| 302 | Nov 24, 1996 | Louisiana Tech beat Washington 73–70 | Defense |
| 303 | Dec 14, 1996 | DePaul beat Louisiana Tech 70–67 | Title change |
| 304 | Dec 18, 1996 | Auburn beat DePaul 63–60 | Title change |
| 305 | Dec 20, 1996 | Auburn beat Northern Illinois 96–77 | Defense |
| 306 | Dec 27, 1996 | Auburn beat Providence 85–51 (holiday tournament) | Defense |
| 307 | Dec 28, 1996 | Auburn beat Northwestern State 80–57 (holiday tournament) | Defense |
| 308 | Dec 29, 1996 | George Mason beat Auburn 58–55 (holiday tournament (OT) | Title change |
| 309 | Jan 5, 1997 | George Mason beat William & Mary 60–58 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 310 | Jan 10, 1997 | James Madison beat George Mason 68–60 (CAA regular season) | Title change |
| 311 | Jan 17, 1997 | Old Dominion beat James Madison 78–53 (CAA regular season) | Title change |
| 312 | Jan 21, 1997 | Old Dominion beat UNC Wilmington 89–51 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 313 | Jan 24, 1997 | Old Dominion beat American University 104–59 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 314 | Jan 26, 1997 | Old Dominion beat George Mason 107–62 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 315 | Jan 31, 1997 | Old Dominion beat VCU 93–35 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 316 | Feb 2, 1997 | Old Dominion beat Richmond 88–65 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 317 | Feb 7, 1997 | Old Dominion beat James Madison 77–49 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 318 | Feb 9, 1997 | Old Dominion beat American University 94–57 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 319 | Feb 11, 1997 | Old Dominion beat UNC Wilmington 97–58 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 320 | Feb 16, 1997 | Old Dominion beat William & Mary 96–36 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 321 | Feb 18, 1997 | Old Dominion beat East Carolina 88–43 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 322 | Feb 21, 1997 | Old Dominion beat VCU 94–47 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 323 | Feb 23, 1997 | Old Dominion beat George Mason 102–46 (CAA regular season) | Defense |
| 324 | Feb 27, 1997 | Old Dominion beat William & Mary 101–35 (CAA Tournament - quarterfinal (Richmond) | Defense |
| 325 | Feb 28, 1997 | Old Dominion beat James Madison 86–48 (CAA Tournament - semifinal (Richmond) | Defense |
| 326 | Mar 2, 1997 | Old Dominion beat East Carolina 83–46 (CAA Tournament - final (Richmond) | Defense |
| 327 | Mar 14, 1997 | Old Dominion beat Liberty 102–52 (NCAA Tournament - First Round (Norfolk) Playoffs | Defense |
| 328 | Mar 16, 1997 | Old Dominion beat Purdue 69–65 (NCAA Tournament - Second Round (Norfolk, OT) Playoffs | Defense |
| 329 | Mar 22, 1997 | Old Dominion beat LSU 62–49 (NCAA Tournament - Regional Semifinal (West Lafayette) Playoffs | Defense |
| 330 | Mar 24, 1997 | Old Dominion beat Florida 53–51 (NCAA Tournament - Regional Final (West Lafayette) Playoffs | Defense |
| 331 | Mar 28, 1997 | Old Dominion beat Stanford 83–82 (NCAA Tournament - National Semifinal (Cincinnati, OT) Playoffs | Defense |
| 332 | Mar 30, 1997 | Tennessee beat Old Dominion 68–59 (NCAA Tournament - Championship (Cincinnati) Playoffs | Title change |