Two down, 126 to go

More news about: Colby | Emory | New York University | UW-Stevens Point
Feb 18, 2022
 
Erica Miller and New York University are UAA champions for the first time since the Violets went to the national semifinals in 2007.
NYU athletics file photo
 

The first two bids into the 64-team NCAA Division III men's and women's basketball tournaments were clinched on Friday night when No. 8 New York University won the UAA women's title and No. 18 Emory won the UAA men's title.

No. 8 New York University blew open a close game at home in the third quarter and defeated Washington U., 63-45. Erica Miller scored nine of her game-high 15 points in the third quarter, and NYU expanded its lead from three to 13 points. Three Violets scored double figures while Jenny Walker added seven points and 13 rebounds. 

No. 18 Emory posted another Friday night come-from-behind win, rallying past Case Western Reserve, 88-84, and into the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Eagles flipped a 12-point deficit to victory in the final 10 minutes as Matthew Schner scored a career-high 39 points. With the game tied at 82, Max Fried scored four straight and put Emory in front for good. Mitch Prendergast led Case Western (17-5, 7-4 UAA) with 32 points and seven rebounds.

The NESCAC and WIAC tournaments tipped off on Friday night with a handful of upsets.

UW-Stevens Point didn't win a single game in the WIAC regular season, but the Pointers defeated fifth-seeded UW-Stout, 85-83, and advanced to the WIAC quarterfinals. Garrett Nelson scored 23 points including the game-winning layup for UW-Stevens Point (4-16) which will face No. 7 UW-La Crosse on Tuesday night. UW-River Falls romped past UW-Eau Claire, 77-42, shooting 52 percent on its way to a game at UW-Whitewater.

Two of the three road teams advanced through the first round of the NESCAC men's tournament. Bowdoin edged Connecticut College on the road, 56-53, and Colby knocked off Hamilton, 64-58. Trinity (Conn.) defended its home court in a 67-50 win over visting Bates. The tournament continues with a quarterfinal matchup between rivals Amherst and Williams on Saturday afternoon.

On the women's side, Colby got a big night from Caroline Smith and ended rival Bowdoin's season, 67-58. Smith scored 28 points, including six in the fourth quarter, for the Mules (12-9). Williams and Wesleyan picked up Ws in the other two first round games over Connecticut College and Hamilton respectively.

Road teams went 1-1 in the first round of the WIAC tournament as UW-River Falls won at UW-Stevens Point, 82-79, but UW-La Crosse topped UW-Platteville, 57-44, at home.