The Northern Collegiate Hockey Association has reviewed the College of St. Scholastica's application for admission to the women's division and have voted unanimously to admit the Duluth school. The Saints will begin conference play in the 2010-11 season.

St. Scholastica's women's program will be part of the fourth expansion year in NCHA women's history. It is the fourth program granted admission to the league since last December; the addition of the Saints will make an 11-team women's division for the 2010-11 season.

Marian University (Fond du Lac), Adrian College (Adrian, Mich.) and St. Norbert College (DePere) were all granted admission to the women's division since last December. Marian and Adrian will begin play this fall while St. Norbert will join in 2010-11 with St. Scholastica.

"We are most happy to welcome the College of St. Scholastica to our women's division as we continue the growth of women's hockey in our conference," said NCHA Commissioner Bill Kronschnabel.

The NCHA has automatic qualification status for the NCAA Division III tournament, which UW-River Falls earned by winning the O'Brien Cup playoffs this past season.

Previous expansions included Finlandia in 2003 and Concordia-Wisconsin in 2007. The original members of the Women's Division, opening play in 2000, were Lake Forest, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Superior.

St. Scholastica will practice and play home games at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth, which is also used by the men's program. The men's program has been in the NCHA consecutively since 1994, with previous membership from 1983 to 1991.