INDIANAPOLIS -- The three-time defending NCAA Division III champion Bates women's rowing team officially received its invitation to the NCAA Championships for the 14th consecutive time on Tuesday, as the NCAA announced the six-team field for the two-day regatta.

The 2021 NCAA Women's Rowing Championships will be held May 28-30 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.

Competing to unseat the Bobcats as national champions will be NESCAC rivals Hamilton and Wesleyan, along with Pacific Lutheran, Ithaca, and Washington (Md.) College.

Bates is ranked No. 1 in Division III and coming off of its fourth consecutive NESCAC title, which earned the Bobcats an automatic invitation to NCAAs along with Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference champion Washington and Liberty League champion Ithaca. 

Beginning with its first NCAA title in 2015, Bates has won four of the past five national titles, including the past three. In 2020, the rowing championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Division III competition is scheduled to begin with 2V8 and 1V8 heats taking place between 8:12 a.m. and 8:48 a.m. on Friday, May 28. The Division III portion of the regatta concludes with 2V8 and 1V8 petite and grand finals between 11 a.m. and 11:36 a.m. on Saturday, May 29.

Video livestream of the entire championships will be available at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule.