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The Blugolds celebrate winning a share of the WIAC
title. |
Saturday marks the end of the regular season for much of Division III basketball. That means there were plenty of senior farewells and some fantastic finishes to playoff races.
The top four teams in the WIAC, which are all nationally ranked, played each other to decide the regular season title.
No. 22 UW-Eau Claire won a back-and-forth battle with No. 10 UW-Stevens Point 66-55 to claim a share of the WIAC title. The Blugolds trailed by eight at the half but scored the first eight points of the second frame to tie the score at 29. With the game tied at 52 and five minutes left, Eau Claire went on a 14-3 run to seize the victory. Senior Callie Halama scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Blugolds. Ellen Plendel added 20 points and 11 boards.
In the other WIAC showdown, No. 25 UW-Whitewater led by as many as 17 points in the second half and held on down the stretch to knock off No. 18 UW-River Falls 67-61 on the road and deny the Falcons a share of the WIAC title. Jamie Swanson led the Warhawks with 14 points off the bench. Alise Holst led UW-River Falls with 28 points and 12 rebounds, including a free throw which cut the deficit to five with 42 seconds left, but the Warhawks sealed it at the line as the Falcons missed three foul shots in the final minute.
Preseason All-American Brittany Parks broke Vassar's career scoring record and propelled the Brewers into the Liberty League playoffs with a 70-55 victory over William Smith. Vassar needed the win to secure a chance to defend its Liberty League title. Parks scored 15 points giving her 1,540 in her career.
No. 19 Franklin defeated Defiance 61-52 to claim its sixth HCAC title and hosting rights for the conference playoffs. The Grizzlies share the title with Hanover, which beat Rose-Hulman 83-57, but Franklin swept the regular season series.
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Brittany Parks and Vassar surged past William Smith
and into the playoffs. |
Mount St. Mary claimed yet another Skyline regular season crown by holding off Farmingdale State 64-60. Natalie Garbie scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Knights.
Ithaca grabbed the Empire 8 regular season title with a win and some help from Stevens. The Bombers won 46-40 at Utica while the Ducks upended Hartwick 60-54.
North Carolina Wesleyan surprised Ferrum 73-69 to knock the Panthers into a three-way tie with Christopher Newport and Greensboro to close the regular season. Ferrum is still the top seed in the conference playoffs.
No. 8 Mary Washington completed a perfect regular season by crushing Wesley 97-47. No. 3 George Fox did the same with a 75-59 win over Pacific Lutheran. The Eagles, Bruins and No. 1 Amherst are the first three teams to finish the regular season undefeated.
Speaking of the top-ranked Lord Jeffs, they rolled past Trinity (Conn.) 94-59 to start the NESCAC tournament. Colby edged Williams 61-59 to advance to the semifinals where they will meet Amherst. Tufts and Bowdoin also advanced through the quarterfinals.
Rutgers-Newark stifled TCNJ 48-37 to win its first round NJAC playoff game. The Scarlet Raiders travel to No. 6 William Paterson on Tuesday night. No. 23 Kean will host Montclair State after the Redhawks took care of Richard Stockton 76-67.