Women's Basketball Earns No. 3 Seed In NECC Tournament

ELMS COLLEGE EARNS NO. 3 SEED IN THE INAUGURAL
NEW ENGLAND COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

ATTLEBORO, MA, Feb. 22, 2009 - The New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) announced pairings for its inaugural women's basketball tournament and Elms College has earned the No. 3 seed as announced by the conference office on Sunday night.

The Blazers (14-11, 12-4 NECC), who won nine of their final 11 regular season games, will host No. 6 Newbury (5-20, 5-11 NECC) in a first round game on Tuesday, February 24. Tip-off at the Maguire Center is 7:00 p.m.

Elms College defeated Newbury in both regular season meetings, as the Blazers posted victories of 73-59 (January 15) and 66-49 (Saturday, February 21).

From there, the winner advances to face No. 2 Lesley (15-10, 14-2) in Friday night's second at Mitchell College.

The winners of Friday's semifinals then meet in Saturday's 2:00 p.m. championship game - also at Mitchell.

Per NCAA rule, the NECC, currently in its first season, will not receive an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Championship until the 2010-11 season. All NECC teams, however, are still eligible for an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament through both Pool B and Pool C.

2009 NECC WOMEN's BASKETBALLTOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

First Round
Tuesday, February 24
No. 6  Newbury (5-20, 5-11) at No. 3 Elms College (14-11, 12-4), 7:00 p.m.
No. 5 Becker (14-11, 10-6) at No. 4 Daniel Webster (15-10, 10-6), 5:30 p.m. *
 * Game to be played at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA

Semifinals
Friday, February 27 (Hosted by Mitchell College)
No. 4 Daniel Webster/No. 5 Becker winner at No. 1 Mitchell (16-9, 14-2), 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Elms College/No. 6 Newbury winner vs. No. 2 Lesley (15-10, 14-2), 8:00 p.m.

Championship
Saturday, February 28 (Hosted by Mitchell College)
Semifinal winners, 2:00 p.m.