CCC Women's Basketball Tournament Field Set

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The University of New England has earned the top seed for the 2013 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women's basketball championship, which begins with quarterfinal matchups on campus sites Tuesday.

The Nor'easters (21-4 overall) captured the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament after compiling a perfect 18-0 record in CCC play. UNE will be seeking to capture its first CCC Tournament title since 2010.

On Tuesday, UNE will host #8 seed Wentworth (11-14, 6-12), while #2 seed Roger Williams (18-7, 14-4) will host #7 seed Curry (10-15, 6-12), #3 seed Salve Regina (15-10, 12-6) will host #6 seed Eastern Nazarene (11-14, 6-12), and #4 seed Western New England (15-10, 12-6) will host #5 seed Endicott (15-10, 11-7). All four quarterfinal games will tip off at 7:00 p.m.

CCC tiebreaking procedures were utilized to determine several seeds in the tournament. Both Salve Regina and Western New England compiled identical 12-6 records in CCC play and tied for third place in the CCC regular-season standings. In the first step, head-to-head play between the teams was examined, but the teams' split their two games, yielding no relief. In the second step, the records of the two teams were compared to other CCC teams from the top of the standings down until a difference emerged. Both the Seahawks and Golden Bears compiled identical records against the other eight CCC teams. Step three offered no assistance, as the teams shared no common non-conference opponents. In the fourth and final step before a possible coin toss, winning percentage against all teams -- conference and non-conference -- with a winning percentage of .500 or better was computed. As Salve Regina posted a .286 winning percentage (4-10) while Western New England compiled a .167 winning percentage (2-10), the Seahawks were awarded the third seed, while the Golden Bears claimed the fourth slot.

Additionally, Eastern Nazarene, Curry and Wentworth posted identical 6-12 CCC records and tied for sixth place in the CCC regular-season standings. In the first step, head-to-head results in games played among the three teams was compared. Each of the three teams were 2-2 in those contests. In the second step, the records of all three teams were compared to other CCC teams from the top of the standings down until a difference emerged. All three teams were 0-2 against top-seeded UNE, but Eastern Nazarene was the only one of the three to earn a victory over second-seeded Roger Williams. This gave ENC the sixth seed, while Curry and Wentworth returned to the first step of the procedure. Since Curry swept the season series from Wentworth, the Colonels were awarded the seventh seed and the Leopards were slotted eighth.

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Thursday, February 21 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, February 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the site of the higher seed.

(Release Courtesy of the Commonwealth Coast Conference)

2013 CCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals • Tuesday, February 19
#8 Wentworth (11-14, 6-12) at #1 University of New England (21-4, 18-0), 7:00 p.m.
#7 Curry (10-15, 6-12) at #2 Roger Williams (18-7, 14-4), 7:00 p.m.
#6 Eastern Nazarene (11-14, 6-12) at #3 Salve Regina (15-10, 12-6), 7:00 p.m.
#5 Endicott (15-10, 11-7) at #4 Western New England (15-10, 12-6), 7:00 p.m.

Semifinals • Thursday, February 21
#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)
Times subject to change in the event of a men's/women's doubleheader

Championship Game • Saturday, February 23
Semifinal Winners, 2:00 p.m. (at higher seed)
Time subject to change in the event of a men's/women's doubleheader

Note: To view the complete news release, please click here. A printable tournament bracket may also be viewed by clicking here. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your computer to view these files.