WESTON, Mass. – For the first time in program history, the Newbury College women's basketball will appear in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship Game. The Nighthawks continue to make NECC history with their, 55-51, upset of third-seed Mitchell College and have a date with the three-time defending champion, Regis College, in the title game Saturday afternoon.

There was a plethora of momentum reeling, coming off their eight-point upset of the second seed, Wheelock College, Tuesday evening as the Nighthawks jumped out in front early. First year forward Tylar Barbato (Hillsdale, N.Y.) ignited the offense and an 8-3 run as the Nighthawks held a commanding, 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

With their offense firing on all cylinders, the defense was equally as impressive as the game moved into the second quarter of play. For the majority of the period, the Nighthawks kept the Mariners off the scoreboard as they begin the period with an 8-0 run. Senior guard Katelyn Roeser (Nashua, N.H.) connected with classmate, Jovanna Sandifer (Boston, Mass.) at the perimeter to give the Nighthawks their largest lead of the half – 16 points, 24-8.

The Mariners were not going to go into the locker room at the half without a basket. Moments after Sandifer hit the trey, Mitchell junior guard Jessica Shepherd (West Hartford, Conn.) knocked down a pair of free throws as the Mariners outscored the Nighthawks, 6-4, in the last five minutes of the first half.

But the damage had already been done. Barbato sent the Nighthawks into the locker room with the 14-point, 28-14, lead with a lay-up from fellow first year guard Isabelle Pafford(Greenland, N.H.).

Returning to the court at the start of the second half, the Nighthawks did not let up despite multiple Mariner attempts to claw their way back into the game. Late in the period, Barbato gave the Nighthawks their largest lead, connecting with first year guard Tina Babcock (Ayer, Mass.) for three to extend the lead to 45-26.

But with less than a second left on the clock, the Mariners' sophomore Ashleigh Beauford(Newington, Conn.) knocked down one of two from the free-throw line to ignite a fourth quarter Mitchell comeback.

In the fourth quarter, the Mariners shot an outstanding 44.0% (11-25) from the field as they erased a 19-point deficit. Keeping the Nighthawks off the scoreboard for eight minutes in the final quarter. After sophomore forward Destiny Spears (Arnold, Md.) exited the game with her fifth four, Mitchell senior forward Chelsea Newman (Manchester, Conn.) made it a one possession game, 45-42, draining one-of-two from the charity stripe.

With momentum, clearly, favoring the Mariners, Pafford, Spears' replacement in the Nighthawk line-up, through in the clutch. The Greenland, N.H. native drained a long two-point jumper from the other Granite State native to provide some separation from the Mariners. It was Newbury's first points of the quarters but was all they needed. 

Over the next minute of play, the Nighthawks sealed the game from the charity stripe, netting eight-of-12 from the line. Olsen was nearly perfect knocking down of eight in the last 55 seconds to lead the Nighthawks into their first appearance in the NECC Title game.

The Nighthawks will be back in action tomorrow afternoon on Higgins court when they look to knock off defending champion and host, Regis College at 2:00 p.m.