Cleveland State-Detroit Mercy Women’s Basketball Game Canceled, Deemed No Contest
INDIANAPOLIS – Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy announced on Tuesday that their women’s basketball game scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 6 has been canceled.
The announcement followed positive COVID-19 tests within the Cleveland State and Detroit Mercy tier I individuals.
Horizon League policy, vetted by multiple membership groups and approved by the Horizon League Council, states that contests that are canceled due to COVID-19 are to be considered forfeits unless deemed a no contest by the Commissioner. League policy authorizes the Commissioner to deem a cancellation a no-contest when the involved institution can demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances led to the cancellation. Given the surge in positive cases due to the Omicron variant, the Council agreed that a high volume of breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals is considered extraordinary.
Both teams sought to deem missed competition on January 6 a no contest since they are both unable to field a team due to continued breakthrough cases among vaccinated student-athletes. Commissioner Julie Roe Lach granted the requested relief noting that both teams were not medically cleared to participate in the game.
If needed, additional updates to the schedule will be announced at a later date.