2013 NEC WBB Tournament: QF Preview

2013 NEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

QUARTERFINALS: Sunday, March 10th

#8) Bryant Bulldogs (12-17, 8-10) at

#1) Quinnipiac Bobcats (27-2, 18-0)

Game Info: TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden, CT, 2pm

All-Time Series: Series tied 19-19 vs. BRY

2013 Regular Season Results: 1/14: QU 85-62 in Smithfield, RI...

2/25: QU 74-61 in Hamden, CT

Playoff History: First ever playoff meeting 

TEAM PLAYOFF PROFILES

#1) QUINNIPIAC BOBCATS (27-2, 18-0 NEC)

-14th NEC Tournament appearance (13th straight)

-7-13 all-time NEC playoff record (6-7 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-1 NEC Championship Game appearance (0-1) – 2006 at SHU, L 69-65

-0 NEC Tournament championships – 1 of 4 NEC teams to never win a title w/BRY, CCSU, & SFC

-2008 & 2013 NEC Regular seasons champions (In 2008, L semi to LIU at ‘neutral site’ in Brooklyn)

-1-2 in NEC playoff games at TD Bank Sports Center

-#1 seed has won 15 of the 26 NEC Tournaments. In the last 19 years, #1 won the title 13 times

-4 teams have finished unbeaten vs. NEC & won the title (‘87 MU, ‘94 MSM, ‘04 SFU, ‘09 SHU)

#8) BRYANT BULLDOGS (12-17, 8-10)

-1st NEC Tournament appearance

-0-0 all-time NEC playoff record (0-0 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-0 NEC Championship Game appearances – 1 of 3 NEC teams never in finals w/SFC & CCSU

-0 NEC Tournament championships – 1 of 4 NEC teams to never win title w/SFC, CCSU, & QU

-Under Mary Burke Bryant appeared in four NCAA D2 NCAA Tournaments, with the last in 2008

-Bulldogs look to become the first team since CCSU in 1998 to win their first ever NEC playoff game

-Only once in NEC tournament history has a #8 seed upset a number 1 – 2007 SFC over LIU

TALE OF THE TAPE

Scoring Offense: QU (1st – 71.1), BRY (4th – 62.8)
Scoring Defense: QU (2nd – 57.8), BRY (9th – 64.4)
Field Goal %: QU (1st - .404), BRY (6th - .381)
Field Goal % Defense: QU (2nd - .362), BRY (5th - .379)
3 point Field Goal %: QU (1st - .358), BRY (12th - .267)

PROJECTED LINEUPS

G – Gillian Abshire, QU (5.2pts, 4.1reb, 5.0a)…Katie Whittington, BRY (8.9pts, 1.9reb, 2.7a)

G – Felicia Barron, QU (14pts, 2.9reb, 2.9a)…Jenniqua Bailey, BRY (8.5pts, 2.1reb, 0.8a)

G – Jasmine Martin, QU (13.1pts, 3.4reb, 1.4a)…Danielle Douglas, BRY (9.7pts, 3.4reb, 2.2a)

F – Brittany McQuain, QU (11.6pts, 8.2reb, 1.4a)…Breanna Rucker, BRY (4.3pts, 4.9reb, 0.9a)

F – Camryn Warner, QU (6.8pts, 4.7reb, 1.2a)…Naana Ankoma-Mensa, BRY (12.9pts, 13reb)

HEAD COACHES

QU: Tricia Fabbri (18th season: 271-242)

BRY: Mary Burke (22nd season: 306-319)

GAME PREVIEW

The 2013 Quinnipiac Bobcats may be one of the most special teams in league history. Not only did they complete just the sixth undefeated regular season in the NEC, but they did so by setting a league single year record with 27 wins (and counting) in the process. This season QU managed to defeat all 18 conference foes, by an average margin of victory of 17.1 points.

The Bobcats success can really be attributed to three things: their depth, their unselfishness, and their ability to turn their opponents over while limiting turnovers of their own. Nine Bobcats average double figures in minutes played. The team has sacrificed individual stats for team play, allowing the group to fully operate as a team and stay fresh for those crucial stretches in second halves where games can be won or lost. As far as ball possession is concerned, QU sports the second best turnover margin in the nation at +8.46. The team also ranks ninth in the nation with 12.3 steals per game.

With the masterful job she has done leading, teaching, and managing this group of young ladies, 18 year head coach Tricia Fabbri was honored as the 2013 NEC Coach of the Year. Felicia Barron was recognized as the NEC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, joining former Bobcat Brianna Rooney and three others as multiple time winners of the award. Barron, junior Brittany McQuain, and sophomore Jasmine Martin were honored as members of the 2013 All-Conference team.

The Bryant Bulldogs are the new kids on the block when it comes to the NEC postseason. In their first year eligible for tournament play, Bryant qualified as the #8 seed with a thrilling 61-56 overtime victory over Robert Morris in the regular season finale. With Bryant down by a single digit in the final seconds, senior Katie Whittington netted a go ahead floater for the lead. Danielle Douglas would convert from the free throw line, and the Bulldogs were moving on to their first Division 1 playoff. Whittington and Douglas each recorded 20 point nights in the Bulldogs historic victory. Bryant is now set for their first playoff game since falling to Stonehill in the 2008 Northeast-10 Championship Game and in the NCAA Division II Tournament opener. The last NEC team to win their first ever NEC Tournament game was the 1998 CCSU Blue Devils, who downed FDU in the quarters before falling to Wagner in the semifinal round.

Bryant dug themselves an early hole by starting the conference season at 0-5. However, they rebounded by winning eight out of their final 13 games to just sneak into the postseason party. Junior forward Naana Ankoma-Mensa was honored as an All-Conference performer, Bryant’s first since 2010. Ankoma-Mensa stood fourth in the country in rebounds at 13 per game and recorded 18 double-doubles.

The Quinnipiac Bobcats enter the postseason looking to become the fifth team in NEC history to finish the regular season undefeated and win the tournament championship. History will be on their side as #1 seeds have won 13 of the last 19 championships. While Quinnipiac looks to continue their march towards history, the Bulldogs will be looking to make some history of their own by becoming just the second #8 seed to upset a #1 in NEC Tournament history. 

#7) St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers (11-18, 8-10) at

#2) Sacred Heart Pioneers (21-9, 13-5)

Game Info: William H. Pitt Center, Fairfield, CT, 2pm

All-Time Series: SHU leads 21-10

2013 Regular Season Results: 1/5: SFC 56-47 in Fairfield, CT…

3/2: SHU 57-53 in Brooklyn, NY

Playoff History: First ever playoff meeting

TEAM PLAYOFF PROFILES

#2) SACRED HEART PIONEERS (21-9, 13-5)

-14th NEC Tournament appearance (14th straight, #1 active streak)

-15-10 all-time NEC playoff record (8-5 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals) 

-4 NEC Championship Game appearances (3-1 record)

-3 NEC Tournament championships: 2006, 2009, 2012

-SHU with 10+ NEC wins and never finished lower than 3rd every year since joining NEC in 1999-00

-Ed Swanson (15) is 1W shy of Jenny Przekwas (SFU) for most HC wins in NEC playoff history

-12-4 in NEC playoff games at Pitt Center

-#2 seed has won the NEC Tournament seven times, with the last coming in 2008 by Robert Morris

#7) ST. FRANCIS BROOKLYN TERRIERS (11-18, 8-10)

-11th NEC Tournament appearance (first since 2008)

-5-10 all-time NEC playoff record (2-7 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-0 NEC Championship Game appearances – 1 of 3 NEC teams never in finals w/BRY & CCSU

-0 Tournament championships – 1 of 4 NEC teams to never win title w/BRY, CCSU, & QU

-Last NEC Tourney win – SFC upset #1 LIU Brooklyn as the 8 seed in 2007

-Highest seeding in team history was #5 in the 1987 and 1998 tournaments

-Since the current 8 team format debuted in 1998, the only wins by a 7 seed were in '03 by UMBC

TALE OF THE TAPE

Scoring Offense: SHU (3rd – 62.8), SFC (9th – 56.7)
Scoring Defense: SHU (1st – 56.0), SFC (3rd – 58.9)
Field Goal %: SHU (5th - .385), SFC (3rd - .388)
Field Goal % Defense: SHU (3rd - .375), SFC (4th - .378)
3 point Field Goal %: SHU (6th - .305), SFC (2nd - .333)

PROJECTED LINEUPS

G – Ericka Norman, SHU (6.6pts, 3.5reb, 7.2a)…Sarah Benedetti, SFC (11.7pts, 4.4reb, 1.1a)

G – Gabby Washington, SHU (16.6pts, 4.3reb, 1.4a)…Katie Fox, SFC (2.9pts, 2.0reb, 2.8a)

G – Kiley Evans, SHU (11.6pts, 4.0reb, 1.3a)…Eilidh Simpson, SFC (9.3pts, 3.3reb, 3.0a)

F – Morgan Merriman, SHU (11.2pts, 5.6reb, 1.5a)…Jaymee Veney, SFC (8.0pts, 4.9reb, 0.7a)

F – Enjoli Bland, SHU (2.9pts, 6.5reb, 0.7a)…Jessica Kaufman, SFC (8.8pts, 4.7reb, 1.7a)

HEAD COACHES

SHU: Ed Swanson (23rd season: 406-262)

SFC: John Thurston (1st season: 11-18 w/SFC, 217-270 overall)

GAME PREVIEW

For a 14th straight season the Sacred Heart Pioneers have navigated their way through the regular season and into the conference tournament. SHU has never finished lower than top three since joining the league in 1999-2000. This season the Pioneers are looking to maintain their top spot as the #1 team in the league and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. Sacred Heart already has shown the ‘heart’ of a champion by overcoming a 1-3 start in conference play. SHU ended up winning 12 out of their last 14 games. Longtime Pioneer head coach Ed Swanson stands on the verge of history. Swanson, who picked up his 400th career win earlier this season, can tie former St. Francis Red Flash head coach Jenny Przekwas’ tournament record with 16 career tournament coaching wins.

While Coach Swanson likes to say that the tournament is all about “Not where you play, but how you’re playing,” there is no doubt that the Pioneers have a significant advantage in playing tournament games at home. Last year, the Pioneers won all three tournament games held on their home court to take the title, and by finishing second in the NEC this year, they have assured themselves of home court advantage for at least the first two rounds. The team has enjoyed a 12-4 record in NEC playoff games at the Pitt Center, and they have won 27 out of their last 30 home dates overall.

When Sacred Heart got out to their worst four game start since joining the NEC, it was junior guard Ericka Norman who sparked them out of their funk. The reigning NEC Tournament MVP recorded a 16 point, 8 rebound, 9 assist, and 7 steal afternoon at St. Francis to help steer the Pioneer ship back in the right direction. Norman, leading scorer Gabby Washington, and senior Kiley Evans were all awarded All-NEC honors. Norman led the NEC in assists and steals, and finished fourth in the nation with a 7.2 assist average. Washington scored in double figures the final 10 games of season, averaging 18 points per night during that stretch. Her 92.5 free throw percentage paced the league and was good enough for fifth in the country. Evans is enjoying her best scoring season since her rookie year, joining the 1,000 career point club in the process.

The St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers enjoyed a resurgent season under first year head coach John Thurston. The team returned 11 players from last year but finished seven games better and qualified for the NEC Tournament for the first time since 2008. Since their last playoff appearance the Terriers have won a combined 12 games between the 2009 and 2012 seasons, before winning 11 games this year. St. Francis more than doubled their overall and conference win totals from a season ago. The Terriers remarkable run really kick started the last time they visited Fairfield in early January, coming away with a 56-47 win. The Terriers played very scrappy on the defensive end, contesting everything, and limiting the Pioneers to just 31% shooting. The Pioneers would pick up a victory in the return affair last weekend, but it was far from easy as SFC cut an 18 point second half deficit to just a one possession game in the final seconds. The Terriers have lost four out of their last five games entering the postseason.

Sophomore guard Sarah Benedetti became the first Terrier to claim All-Conference honors since 2009 when she was named to the third team this week. Benedetti led St. Francis in scoring and led the league with 76 three point baskets made this season. Teammate Leah Fechko was recognized for her stellar play in her rookie campaign by being named to the All-Rookie team. Fechko is the 10th Terrier to appear on the All-Rookie squad.

So after two close, intense, defensive battles during the regular season, the Terriers and Pioneers are all set meet in a rubber match in the first round of the NEC Tournament for all the guacamole. It will be win or go home at the Pitt Center on Sunday afternoon with a spot in the semifinals hanging in the balance.

#6) Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (14-15, 10-8) at

#3) Monmouth Hawks (15-14, 12-6)

Game Info: Multipurpose Activity Center, West Long Branch, NJ, 3pm

All-Time Series: MSM leads 31-18

2013 Regular Season Results: 1/5: MSM 70-51 in Emmitsburg, MD…

3/4: MU 71-63 in West Long Branch, NJ

Playoff History: MSM leads 2-1…MSM won 74-63 in 1993 SF and 74-46 in 1996 SF…MU won 76-66 in 1999 SF

TEAM PLAYOFF PROFILES

#3) MONMOUTH HAWKS (15-14, 12-6)

-24th NEC Tournament appearance (12th straight)

-22-22 all-time NEC playoff record (14-6 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-7 NEC Championship Game appearances (1-6 record), MU lost in final the last two seasons

-1 NEC Tournament championship: 1987

-NEC Tournament record 17 appearances in semi-finals, advanced to the semis 5 of last 6 years

-4-0 in NEC playoff games at the MAC

-One team has lost back to back finals only to come back and win title in year three (SFU 94-96)

-#3 seed has won the NEC Tournament twice, most recently coming in 2001 by LIU Brooklyn

#6) MOUNT ST. MARY’S MOUNTAINEERS (14-15, 10-8)

-22nd NEC Tournament appearance

-17-18 all-time NEC playoff record (7-9 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-7 NEC Championship Game appearances (3-4 record), last in 2001

-3 NEC Tournament championships: 1993, 1994, 1995

-Appeared in a record 20 straight NEC Tournaments from 1990-2009

-Lost 10 straight NEC Tournament playoff games – last win, 2001 semi-finals against SHU 

-Earned the NEC’s first ever automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament in 1994

-#6 seed has never won the NEC title, but has reached the finals twice – Wagner 1991 & 2000

TALE OF THE TAPE

Scoring Offense: MU (6th – 59.6), MSM (7th – 58.6)
Scoring Defense: MU (7th – 62.4), MSM (5th – 61.1)
Field Goal %: MU (9th - .375), MSM (2nd - .399)
Field Goal % Defense: MU (8th - .393), MSM (7th - .391)
3 point Field Goal %: MU (3rd - .333), MSM (4th - .323)

PROJECTED LINEUPS

G – Gabby Singer, MU (6.6pts, 3.5reb, 7.2a)…Selina Mann, MSM (6.1pts, 4.1reb, 4.0a)

G – Carly Thibault, MU (16.6pts, 4.3reb, 1.4a)…Syd Henderson, MSM (13.3pts, 6.0reb, 2.7a)

G – Alysha Womack, MU (11.6pts, 4.0reb, 1.3a)…Jacqueline Brewer, MSM (9.6pts, 2.9reb)

F – Chevannah Paalvast, MU (11.2pts, 5.6reb, 1.5a)…Tara Lonergan, MSM (7.7pts, 3.2reb)

F – Abigail Martin, MU (2.9pts, 6.5reb, 0.7a)…Rachel Matthews, MSM (4.9pts, 3.7reb, 0.8a)

 

HEAD COACHES

MU: Jenny Palmateer (2nd season: 34-27)

MSM: Bryan Whitten (6th season: 68-108 w/MSM, 288-211 overall)

GAME PREVIEW

The Monmouth Hawks, NEC runners up each of the last two years, will begin their quest for a third straight championship game appearance at home against Mount St. Mary’s. The Hawks have an extremely experienced roster, six seniors who have equaled a program record with 48 conference wins over the last four years. Monmouth also brings in a roster with a combined 44 games of playoff experience. Monmouth won the very first NEC tournament title in 1987, and this year’s group would love to bookend MU’s tenure in the league with another championship trophy.

It was a somewhat unusual sight for a team with the experience and the track record that the Monmouth Hawks do, to go under the radar for most of the season. But that very much seemed to be the case. The Hawks were just 5-4 and in the middle of the pack in the standings at the midway point of the conference year, hardly looking like serious contenders for a conference championship. However in the second half of the conference season, MU came together and won seven out of their last nine games, putting them in terrific position to once again make a title run. Monmouth clinched the all–important home court advantage for this game with a 71-63 win over these very same Mountaineers on Monday night. Mount led the majority of the game, but MU looked every bit of the veteran team that they are down the stretch, outscoring the Mount 30-13 over the final 10 minutes to earn the comeback win. Now MU will get to play in front of the “MU Mob” at the MAC, where they are 4-0 all-time in the playoffs.

The Hawks are led by four year All-Conference guard Alysha Womack. Womack paced the team with 14.3 points per game during the regular season and stands fifth on Monmouth’s all-time scoring list. It was only fitting that MU senior Carly Thibault made the All-NEC third team this year. Not only does the Thibault wear the number three, but she shot a league best 44.1% from downtown this season. The Blue and White will also turn to senior forward Abby Martin who averages 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in seven career playoff games.

With their loss in the season fine, Mount missed out on an key opportunity to host a playoff game for the first time since 2002. However, the Mountaineers will get to return right back to West Long Branch, looking to come up with a win this time around, in a game with a lot more at stake. Mount is looking to advance past their opening game for the first time since 2001. Last year the Mountaineers were a great success story, predicted to finish eleventh, Bryan Whitten guided the team to a seventh place finish and their first playoff berth in three years. This season, Mount is looking to take the next step forward and record a signature road win in the postseason and advance to the semifinals.

Junior guard Sydney Henderson has really come into her own this year, leading the team in scoring with a career high 13.3 points per night, earning her All-Conference honors. Henderson stands ninth in the league in scoring and has played the second most minutes of any player in the NEC. Senior guard Selina Mann is known for being able to do a lot of things, but scoring a large amount of points isn’t necessarily what you would associate with her. Mann did manage to pour in 20 points against MU last Monday night to lead all scorers. It also must be mentioned what an outstanding addition Jacqueline Brewer has been for this Mount team. Brewer is averaging 9.6 points per game in her first on-court season with the team. Brewer sat out last year after transferring from VCU.

This marks the third straight season Monmouth faces the team they defeated in the season finale right in the first round of the playoffs. In 2011 the Hawks knocked out Quinnipiac while last year it was LIU Brooklyn. Monmouth is trying to advance to their record 18th semifinal and sixth semi in the last seven years. However in order to get there this year they’ll need to get past a dangerous sixth seeded Mountaineer squad. It will be no walk on the beach down at the Jersey Shore as the Hawks will need to be on upset alert. Six seeds have pulled off first round upsets in the NEC Tournament three out of the last five seasons.

#5) CCSU Blue Devils (16-13, 10-8) at

#4) St. Francis Red Flash (15-14, 10-8)

Game Info: DeGol Arena, Loretto, PA, 3pm

All-Time Series: SFU leads 21-8

2013 Regular Season Results: 2/7: SFU 67-62 in Loretto, PA…

3/4: CCSU 76-71 in New Britain, CT

Playoff History: SFU leads 2-0…SFU won 73-62 in 2009 SF and 68-62 in 2011 SF

TEAM PLAYOFF PROFILES

#4) ST. FRANCIS RED FLASH (15-14, 10-8)

-19th NEC Tournament appearance

-39-7 all-time NEC playoff record (14-4 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-14 NEC Championship Game appearances (11-3 record)

-11 NEC Tournament titles: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011

-SFU has won a league record 11 tournaments, the other 11 NEC schools have 15 titles combined

-SFU is 23-1 in NEC playoff games at DeGol Arena – won 23 straight since 1992 loss to WAG

-Had won 14 straight QF games until last year’s loss at RMU. Have won 35 of last 37 playoff games

-#4 seed has won the NEC Tournament just once, Robert Morris in 1991 

#5) CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE BLUE DEVILS (16-13, 10-8)
-8th NEC Tournament appearance

-4-7 all-time NEC playoff record (4-3 all-time in NEC tournament quarterfinals)

-0 NEC Championship Game appearances – 1 of 3 NEC teams never in finals w/BRY & SFC

-0 NEC Tournament championships – 1 of 4 NEC teams to never win title w/BRY, QU, & SFC

-Made three straight semi-final appearances from 2009-2011

-The #5 seed is the highest CCSU has earned since placing #2 in the 2009 tournament 

-#5 seed has won the NEC Tournament just once, St. Francis in 2010  

TALE OF THE TAPE

Scoring Offense: SFU (2nd – 65.3), CCSU (5th – 61.1)
Scoring Defense: SFU (11th – 68.3), CCSU (4th – 60.2)
Field Goal %: SFU (7th - .380), CCSU (4th - .388)
Field Goal % Defense: SFU (12th - .408), CCSU (1st - .359)
3 point Field Goal %: SFU (9th - .298), CCSU (10th - .286)

PROJECTED LINEUPS

G – Nickia Gibbs, SFU (10.0pts, 3.9reb, 2.7a)…Jessica Babe, CCSU (9.1pts, 7.2reb, 3.7a)

G – Alexa Heyward, SFU (8.1pts, 1.9reb, 1.6a)…Jaclyn Babe, CCSU (16pts, 4reb, 2.9a)

G – Shene Fleming, SFU (6.9pts, 6.4reb, 0.9a)…Kaley Watras, CCSU (9.2pts, 3.5reb, 2.6a)

F – Alli Williams, SFU (17.4pts, 10.8reb)…Jaleen Thomas, CCSU (2.5pts, 4.5reb, 0.5a)

F – Rebecca Keegan, SFU (5.5pts, 3.8reb)…Kirsten Daamen, CCSU (9.5pts, 4.8reb, 1.1a)

HEAD COACHES

SFU: Joe Haigh (1st season: 15-14)

CCSU: Beryl Piper (6th season: 82-97)

GAME PREVIEW

The four versus five matchup is always the most intriguing game in any tournament, and this year’s battle between Saint Francis and Central Connecticut State appears to be no different. The schools split the season series this year, with each winning on their own home court. The Red Flash lost five out of their last seven games while the Blue Devils have gone in the other direction, winning five out of their last six.

Of course, Saint Francis is the dynasty program of the Northeast Conference. The Red Flash have more trophy cases to hold all their hardware than other schools have championships. Among the ridiculous playoff numbers that the Red Flash have accumulated over the years are 11 tournament titles, 39 playoff wins, and a 23 straight playoff game win streak at DeGol Arena. Saint Francis has won 35 out of their last 37 playoff games. There is no doubt that when the traditional ‘playoff purple’ nail polish comes out for March Madness, the Red Flash make sure to get down to business.

Alli Williams accumulated an incredible season, finishing second in the NEC in scoring with 17.4 points per game. The junior was just one of four players in the NEC to finish the season averaging a double-double. Williams was named to the All-Conference first team and is the third player in St. Francis history with 1,000 career points, 600 rebounds, and 200 career steals. The other two players, Jess Zinoble and Beth Swink, are NEC Hall of Famers.

Central Connecticut returns to the playoffs after missing out last season. Prior to last year the Blue Devils had appeared in the semifinals three consecutive seasons. The five seed serves as the highest showing for the Blue Devils since they were seeded second in 2009. Their 2013 season was a year full of streaks, but fortunately for CCSU they finished on the upswing. After an 0-2 start, Central won their next five, only to follow that right up with a five game skid. In danger of missing the playoff party again, CCSU rallied to win five out of their last six, including a five point victory over the Red Flash in the season finale.

Central senior Jaclyn Babe recorded 29 points against the Flash and would go on to be named to the All-Conference first team, averaging 16 per night on the season. Babe becomes the first Blue Devil to nab first team honors since Gabriella Guegblelet in 2007. Jaclyn is joined by her younger sister Jessica, who led the team in rebounding.

One of the intriguing matchups to watch will be the Saint Francis offense attacking the CCSU defense. The Red Flash are the second best scoring defense in the league, while the Blue Devils feature a physical attack that is the number one field goal percentage defensive unit. The four and the five seeds have each produced one champion in the tournament's history, with Robert Morris taking home the title as a four seed in 1991 and St. Francis becoming the lowest seed to ever win a championship as a five in 2010.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

-Only five teams return from the 2012 NEC WBB Tournament. Bryant, Central Connecticut State, and St. Francis Brooklyn join the playoff party this season, replacing FDU, Robert Morris, and LIU Brooklyn.

-SHU has never won back to back NEC tournament titles. In their two previous title defense seasons, the Pioneers lost in the championship game to Robert Morris in 2007 and lost in the quarterfinal round to CCSU to 2010.

-The last five times that the NEC WBB tournament has been held at the homes of the higher seeds, as opposed to a neutral site, the top three seeds have gone a combined 13-2 in the quarterfinal round. Overall, in the last five ‘higher seed hosts’ formatted tournaments, home teams are 28-7 (.800) in all three rounds combined.

-Four current NEC teams have never won a NEC title: St. Francis Brooklyn, Bryant, Central Connecticut State, and Quinnipiac. All four will be included in this year’s field. Three of those teams, BRY, CCSU, and SFC, have never appeared in championship round. The other four teams in this year’s draw: St. Francis, Monmouth, Sacred Heart, and Mount St. Mary’s, have combined to win 18 championships. 

-The four quarterfinal hosting teams – Quinnipiac (12-0), Sacred Heart (12-2), Monmouth (10-4), and St. Francis (9-3) are a combined 43-9 (.827) at home in 2012-13

-Joe Haigh, Mary Burke, and John Thurston will be making their NEC head coaching playoff debuts in the 2013 Tournament. The last NEC WBB head coach to win a title in their first season at the helm was Jill Poe with St. Francis in 2003-04. Sacred Heart’s Ed Swanson is the only head coach in this year’s field that has won a conference crown as a head coach.

-St. Francis has won 11 out of the previous 26 NEC WBB Tournaments to lead all teams. The next closest team is the Robert Morris Colonials, who have won four. While SFU has taken the top prize 11 times, the rest of the league has only managed to win 15 titles combined. 

-2013 marks the first time ever that the NEC Player of the Year will not participate in that season’s NEC Tournament. Robert Morris’ Artemis Spanou was honored as the fourth Colonial to take home Player of the Year honors. The Greek-born junior led the conference in scoring and led the entire nation in rebounds and double-doubles. However her quest to get her team into the NEC’s top eight fell short on the final night of the regular season and the Colonials missed out on the playoff party. 

NEC TOURNAMENT TITLES AND RECORDS

SCHOOL                    TITLES    LAST
Saint Francis                 11        2011

Robert Morris                 4         2008

Mount St. Mary’s           3         1995

Sacred Heart                 3         2012

Fairleigh Dickinson        2         1992

LIU Brooklyn                 1         2001

Monmouth                    1         1987

Wagner                        1         1989   

Bryant                          0         -------

Central Connecticut       0         -------

Quinnipiac                    0         -------

St. Francis Brooklyn      0         -------

                       

PAST NEC TOURNAMENT WINNERS AND MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

2012 -- #1 Sacred Heart def. #3 Monmouth, 58-48 (Ericka Norman, SHU)
2011 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #2 Monmouth, 72-57 (Brittany Lilley, SFU)

2010 -- #5 Saint Francis def. #2 LIU Brooklyn, 77-68 (Britney Hodges, SFU)

2009 -- #1 Sacred Heart def. #3 Saint Francis, 74-66 (Kaitlin Sowinski, SHU)

2008 -- #2 Robert Morris def. #4 LIU Brooklyn, 86-75 (Chinata Nesbit, RMU)

2007 -- #2 Robert Morris def. #3 Sacred Heart, 68-66 (Chinata Nesbit, RMU)

2006 -- #1 Sacred Heart def. #2 Quinnipiac, 69-65 (Amanda Pape, SHU)

2005 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #3 Robert Morris, 65-50 (Beth Swink, SFU)

2004 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #3 Monmouth, 70-55 (Tonjee Ward, SFU)

2003 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #7 UMBC, 58-41 (Beth Swink, SFU)

2002 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #2 LIU Brooklyn, 74-54 (Karen Hewitt, SFU)

2001 -- #3 LIU Brooklyn def. #1 Mount St. Mary’s, 70-61 (Tamika Dudley, LIU)

2000 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #6 Wagner, 74-60 (Jess Zinobile, SFU)

1999 -- #2 Saint Francis def. #4 Monmouth, 88-76 (Jess Zinobile, SFU)

1998 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #3 Wagner, 74-49 (Mary Markey, SFU)

1997 -- #1 Saint Francis def. #2 Monmouth, 69-56 (Jess Zinobile, SFU)

1996 -- #2 Saint Francis def. #1 Mount St. Mary’s, 83-75 (Mary Markey, SFU)

1995 -- #1 Mount St. Mary’s def. #2 Saint Francis, 80-61 (Nikki Schroyer, SFU)

1994 -- #1 Mount St. Mary’s def. #2 Saint Francis, 78-67 (Susie Rowlyk, MSM)

1993 -- #2 Mount St. Mary’s def. #4 Marist, 82-61 (Diana Matula, MSM)

1992 -- #2 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #1 Mount St. Mary’s, 78-55 (Barbara DeShields, FDU)

1991 -- #4 Robert Morris def. #6 Wagner, 69-61 (Maebeth Schalles, RMU)

1990 -- #3 Fairleigh Dickinson def. #1 Mount St. Mary’s, 70-65 (Cathy Panos, FDU)

1989 -- #1 Wagner def. #2 Robert Morris, 66-60 (Cynthia Quinlan, WC)

1988 -- #2 Robert Morris def. #1 Monmouth, 63-60 (JoAnn Beatty, RMU)

1987 -- #1 Monmouth def. #3 Fairleigh Dickinson, 92-65 (Linda Wilson, MU)