Men's & Women's Basketball Championship Game Times Announced

HADLEY, Mass. - Amherst College, the top seed in both the 2008 NESCAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, will host the semifinals and final for both tournaments next weekend at LeFrak Gymnasium in Amherst, Mass. The championship game schedule has been adjusted for both events. The semifinals for the Women’s Championship will take place on Saturday, March 1 at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., while the semifinals for the Men’s Championship will occur later that evening at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The final contest for both will occur on Sunday, March 2 with the Women’s Basketball Championship beginning at 12:00 p.m., followed by the Men’s Basketball Championship at 2:30 p.m.

On the women’s side, top-seeded Amherst (23-2, 7-2 NESCAC), an 83-53 winner over eighth-seeded Colby in the quarterfinals, will face fourth-seeded Bowdoin (18-7, 6-3 NESCAC) in the first semifinal at 12:00 p.m. at LeFrak. The Polar Bears posted a 55-51 come-from-behind victory over fifth seed Bates in the quarterfinals. Bowdoin, which is now 21-0 in NESCAC tournament play, won the lone meeting of the season with Amherst on Feb. 2, 72-61 in Brunswick, Maine. Immediately following the Amherst-Bowdoin match, second seed Tufts (22-2, 7-2 NESCAC) will take on third seed Wesleyan (17-8, 6-3 NESCAC) at 2:00 p.m. Tufts moved past Middlebury in the quarterfinals, 71-60, while Wesleyan rolled to a 68-49 win over Williams. The Jumbos earned a 66-52 win over the Cardinals on Feb. 2 in Middletown, Conn. The winners of Saturday’s semifinals will meet on Sunday for the 2008 Women’s Basketball Championship at 12:00 p.m.

In the men’s tournament, Amherst (23-2, 9-0 NESCAC) earned the right to host the semifinals and championship for the fourth-consecutive year with an 86-69 victory over eighth seed Colby on Saturday afternoon in quarterfinal action. The Lord Jeffs will take on fourth seed Bowdoin (20-5, 6-3 NESCAC) in the 6:00 p.m. semifinal on Saturday, March 1. The Polar Bears set a program record for wins in the quarterfinals with an 83-50 decision over rival Bates. Amherst came away with an 85-79 victory over Bowdoin in the lone meeting of the season on Feb. 2 in Amherst, Mass. The 8:00 p.m. semifinal match will pit second-seeded Trinity (19-6, 6-3 NESCAC) against third-seeded Middlebury (19-6, 6-3 NESCAC), as the Panthers advanced to the NESCAC semifinals for the first time in program history with a 96-59 victory against Williams. The Bantams won the only meeting of the regular season between the two on Jan. 26 in Hartford, 74-71. The two teams that advance out of Saturday’s semifinals shall meet on Sunday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m. for the 2008 Men’s Basketball Championship.

Tickets will be sold separately for the Women’s and Men’s Basketball semifinal games, and information on how to purchase tickets will be made available by Amherst next week. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $2 for students and children on Saturday and Sunday. Doors will open one hour prior to tip-off for the women’s games and also the men’s games on Saturday.

Live game information and up-to-date scores will be available on www.nescac.com.

2008 NESCAC Women’s Basketball Championship
Semifinals - Saturday, March 1 at Amherst
No. 4 Bowdoin at No. 1 Amherst - 12:00 p.m.
No. 3 Wesleyan vs. No. 2 Tufts - 2:00 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, March 2 at Amherst
Semifinal Winners - 12:00 p.m.

2008 NESCAC Men’s Basketball Championship
Semifinals - Saturday, March 1 at Amherst
No. 4 Bowdoin at No. 1 Amherst - 6:00 p.m.
No. 3 Middlebury vs. No. 2 Trinity - 8:00 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, March 2 at Amherst
Semifinal Winners - 2:30 p.m.