SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – For the third consecutive year, the University of New England has earned the top seed for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball championship. The 2014 tournament begins with quarterfinal matchups on campus sites Tuesday.
The Nor'easters (23-2 overall) captured the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament after compiling a conference-best 17-1 record in CCC play. Ranked 20th in the most recent USA Today Top 25 Coaches' Poll, UNE will be seeking to capture its second consecutive CCC Tournament title and third league crown in the last five years.
On Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., UNE will host #8 seed Wentworth (8-16, 5-13), while #2 seed Roger Williams (20-5, 15-3) will host #7 seed Nichols (11-14, 6-12), #3 seed Endicott (19-6, 14-4) will host #6 seed Western New England (10-15, 7-11), and #4 seed Salve Regina (13-12, 11-7) will host #5 seed Curry (13-12, 9-9) at 6:00 p.m., prior to the Salve Regina vs. Endicott men's quarterfinal.
CCC tiebreaking procedures were utilized to determine the eighth and final seed in the tournament. Both Wentworth and Eastern Nazarene finished tied for eighth place with identical 5-13 records in CCC play. The first step in the tiebreaking procedure offered no relief, as the teams split their two regular-season matchups. In the second step, records against all other CCC teams were compared, starting from the top of the standings and working down until one team gained an advantage. Both WIT and ENC posted 0-2 records against the top three teams in the standings – UNE, Roger Williams and Endicott. WIT earned the number eight seed by virtue of a 1-1 record against fourth-place Salve Regina, while ENC was 0-2.
Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Thursday, February 27 at the sites of the higher seed. Games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., but may be altered in the event that one institution hosts both a men's and a women's contest.
Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. at the site of the higher seed.
Wentworth is 3-23 all-time against the Nor'Easters and travels to Biddeford, Maine, for a quarterfinal round matchup for the second straight season. Last season's 62-32 win by UNE was the lone playoff meeting between the two schools. This season the Nor'easters won, 67-54, on January 7, in Biddeford, and pulled out a 61-54 overtime in in Boston on February 4.
Click HERE for the Interactive Tournament Bracket.
Click HERE for the Printable Tournament Bracket.
2013-14 CCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
All times subject to change in the event of a men's/women's doubleheader
Quarterfinals • Tuesday, February 25
#8 Wentworth (8-16, 5-13) at #1 University of New England (23-2, 17-1), 7:00 p.m.
#7 Nichols (11-14, 6-12) at #2 Roger Williams (20-5, 15-3), 7:00 p.m.
#6 Western New England (10-15, 7-11) at #3 Endicott (19-6, 14-4), 7:00 p.m.
#5 Curry (13-12, 9-9) at #4 Salve Regina (13-12, 11-7), 6:00 p.m.
Semifinals • Thursday, February 27
#1/8 winner vs.#4/5 winner, 7:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
#2/7 winner vs. #3/6 winner, 7:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
Championship Game • Saturday, March 1
Semifinal Winners, 2:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
