Hartwick Women's Basketball Punches Ticket to the NCAA Tournament
ONEONTA, NY - Hartwick's women's basketball team was rewarded for its impressive season on Monday with an at-large berth into the 2012 NCAA Division III Basketball Tournament. The Hawks, who will making their eighth appearance in the tournament, travel to Rhode Island College in Providence, RI for their first round game on Friday.
Hartwick's first round opponent will be Emmanuel College (MA). The host RIC Anchorwomen will play Baruch College in the other first round game. The winners will play on Saturday with all three contests taking place at RIC's Murray Center.
"We are really excited to get a bid into the tournament," said West after the announcement of the 64-team field. "Our girls have worked so hard this season and are thrilled. It's great to continue and be able to compete against the best teams in the country and be recognized as one of them. I'm just so fortunate to have a team that is determined to get better every day."
After receiving their first NCAA invite in 1983, Hartwick participated in six national tournaments in the 1990s (1990, '91, '95, '96, '97, '99). Their last appearance was 13 years ago.
The Hawks are 22-5 overall this season. They have the most victories for the program in 22 years and are just two wins shy of the College all-time benchmark.
Emmanuel College (22-6) earned an automatic bid to the tournament thanks to its Great Northeast Conference Championship this season. The Saints have won 10 in a row dating back to late January.
The Hawks and Saints have only one common opponent in Suffolk University. The Hawks lost the Rams in their third game of the season 56-52. Emmanuel swept Suffolk, 64-58, on January 10 and again in the GNAC semifinals, 87-58.
Rhode Island College (24-3) won the Little East Conference Championship. The Anchorwomen have won 22 of their last 23 games. One of their three losses came at the hands of Emmanuel College.
Baruch College (19-9) won the CUNYAC title this season to earn its automatic berth. The Bearcats downed Hartwick's Empire 8 Conference foe Stevens in their first game of the season, 76-55. They also dropped a 64-59 decision at Ithaca on December 10.