BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is sanctioning women's swimming and diving.

It will be the league's 18th championship sport. Competition will begin during the 2016-17 academic year.

Four NSIC schools in Minnesota and South Dakota already offer women's swimming and diving. The University of Mary in North Dakota, and the University of Sioux Falls and Augustana College in South Dakota have announced they will add the sport. That will bring to seven the number of NSIC schools offering the sport, which is one more than the conference minimum for a championship sport.

The NSIC has schools in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska.

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