Obama niece's security raised over threat

A phone message threatening Barack Obama's niece has been taken seriously, causing security to be raised at her college basketball games.

A threat against Barack Obama's niece has prompted increased security for her basketball team. (AAP)

A threat against US President Barack Obama's niece has prompted increased security for the college basketball team for which she plays.

Hours after Maryland beat Leslie Robinson's Princeton 85-70 in the second round of the women's college basketball championship tournament, the University of Maryland police department released a statement confirming the threat.

University police "received a call stating that the caller had received a text from a third party indicating that a male that she knew had a gun and mentioned president Obama's niece," the statement said.

The university said that "at this time" the details were unsubstantiated.

On Saturday, President Obama attended Princeton's 80-70 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay in the first round, inevitably drawing attention to his niece, freshman forward Leslie Robinson.

Her father, Craig Robinson, is the brother of first lady Michelle Obama.

The player did not appear in either of Princeton's NCAA Tournament games.