Ready, Set, Go
With the end approaching, it’s time to put 18 weeks of play into perspective. Nine teams fighting for one spot in the NCAA tournament will make for an interesting weekend at the America East women’s basketball championship, which began last night in Hartford.
The Binghamton Bearcats go in as the No. 5 seed, and will face the Albany Great Danes in the quarterfinals. Binghamton has never advanced past the semifinals of the America East championship, nor has it beaten Albany this season—two hills they hope to climb this weekend.
“We are going to have to make changes,” said BU head coach Rich Conover after being swept by Albany. “We’ll have to make those minor adjustments.”
The Bearcats were led by senior Laine Kurpniece, who was selected to the All-Conference first team for the first time after averaging 12.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. Classmate Laura Sario was selected to the All-Conference team third team. She averaged 9.9 points per game in her final season.
“We are very happy for both Laine and Laura,” Conover said. “They have both been major contributors for our program and we are very appreciative of everything they have done for us.”
Kurpniece has been Binghamton’s go-to player and has taken the team on her shoulders on many occasions.
“Laine is the key component,” Conover said. “As she goes we go and she understands that.”
Stony Brook defeated Maine 64-58 in the play-in game last night. The Seawolves now face an Everest of challenge, with Hartford up next in the quarterfinals.
Host Hartford has clinched the No. 1 seed for the third straight time heading into the final weekend, and is looking for its third trip to the NCAA tournament in four years. The Hawks dynasty looks to be just getting started, and if not for its loss to UMBC last season in the finals, would be the uncontested kings of the conference.
The Hawks have been led this season by senior Danielle Hood, who is averaging 16.4 points a game—good for third in the conference—and 4.3 rebounds a game. Hood was also selected to the All-Conference first team this season.
Vermont sophomore Courtnay Pilypaitis captured the 2008 America East Women’s Basketball Player of the Year award after leading the conference in scoring, with 17.1 points per game. She also tied a school record of 40 points this season in an 83-73 loss to Vermont on Feb. 2. She and the second-seeded Catamounts are the clear favorites over New Hampshire in the quarterfinals this weekend.
Sophomore Jesyka Burks-Wiley of Boston University leads the No. 3 Terriers to face defending Maryland-Baltimore County. Burks-Wiley leads the team in both points and rebounds, averaging 12.9 and six respectively.
The Retrievers followed up last season’s unexpected NCAA Tournament appearance with a disappointing 5-11 conference record this year. They won the AE Tournament as the No. 7 seed.
The tournament continues today with all quarterfinal matchups, starting at noon with Vermont taking on New Hampshire. The games can be followed live at www.bubearcats.com.