Bridgewater State, University of New England Roll into NCAA tournament

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- They have a combined record of 47-7 and are riding winning streaks of 19 and 11 games.

The University of New England and the Bridgewater State University women's basketball teams have put together incredible seasons, with the Nor'easters going 24-4 and the Bears 23-3.

Something will have to give, though, when BSU (11 wins in a row with 17 in the last 18 games) and New England (19 straight victories) square off in the opening round of the NCAA Div. 3 tournament today at 5 p.m. at LeFrak Gymnasium in Amherst.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the Bears, who won the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship, and the Nor'easters, who are champions of the Commonwealth Coast Conference.

In addition to having successful seasons in common, BSU and New England share something else – they will be trying to advance in the NCAA tourney after bowing out quickly in recent appearances.

The Bears, making their third trip in a row, fourth in six years and eighth overall, have moved out of the first round only once in program history, doing so in 1985 with a win over Rhode Island College.

The Nor'easters are in the NCAAs for a fourth time, losing in the opening round to Ithaca in 2001, Western Connecticut State in 2010 and Johns Hopkins last season.

BSU coach Bridgett Casey, whose team has compiled the second-highest win total in program history, has spent the week getting a crash course on the Nor'easters.

"They are very, very similar to us,'' said Casey. "They like to try to get out and run and set the tempo. They play a similar style to what we play.

"They will probably be the only team that will full-court press us, which is what we try to do. I go back to conditioning. It will be who will outlast who.''

New England has tied a program record for victories this season and has won at least 20 games five consecutive years. It is led by forward Beth Suggs, the CCC player of the year who is averaging 14.4 points and 11.4 rebounds and has 16 double-doubles.

The only other scorer in double figures is Kelly Coleman (12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds). The Nor'easters allow just 49 points per game, and like the Bears, force numerous turnovers.

BSU and New England played four common opponents (Williams, Bates, Colby and Saint Joseph's) with the Bears going 4-0 and the Nor'easters 1-3.

BSU is back in Amherst for a second straight NCAA tourney, losing to Babson College, 68-59, a year ago. Three players, Michaela Cosby, Jenna Williamson and Megan Boutilette, started in that game against a team that was 25-2, and they are hoping the experience gained will come in handy.

"I think we're absolutely ready,'' said point guard Elisha Homich, who was sidelined last season due to a blood clot in her arm. "I think it's going to be huge having that experience. We know what it's like.''

The opening-round game will be webcast at www.amherst.edu/athletics/jeffcast/jeffcast2.

The BSU-New England winner advances to the second round on Saturday at 6 p.m. against either fourth-ranked Amherst or Farmingdale for a spot in the Sweet 16.