WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Citing the on-going health risks surrounding COVID-19, the Eastern Connecticut State University women's basketball team has voted to forego its 2020-21 season, it has been announced by director of athletics Lori Runksmeier.
 
Originally scheduled to resume team practice Jan. 3 for its season-opener Jan. 23 after a ten-week layoff, the team voted to cancel the season late last week. Eastern becomes the fourth Little East Conference women's basketball team to opt out of the season, joining the University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Southern Maine and Western Connecticut State University.
 
The Eastern men resumed team practice Jan. 3 and are scheduled to play a ten-game LEC regular-season schedule beginning Jan. 23 at Plymouth State, with an LEC tournament involving the top four teams March 3 and March 6.
 
Under the direction of head coach Denise Bierly – now in her 27^th year  – the Eastern women won their second straight LEC tournament championship last year and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament and finished with a 24-5 record.