2005 Women's Basketball Championship Field Announced

HADLEY, Mass. — Bowdoin College finished regular season conference play undefeated and earned the top seed in the 2005 NESCAC Women’s Basketball Championship. The four-time defending NESCAC champion Polar Bears (9-0 NESCAC, 20-2 overall), who have not lost a conference regular season or tournament game in three seasons, will meet Trinity (2-7 NESCAC, 9-13 overall) at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 19.

Bates, who survived a scare from Trinity 70-69 on the final day of the regular season, earned the tournament’s second seed. The Bobcats (8-1 NESCAC, 22-1 overall) are currently the top-ranked team in country by d3hoops.com and will host seventh seed Tufts (3-6 NESCAC, 14-9 overall). Bates’ only loss was at third-ranked Bowdoin, a defeat they avenged 74-62 three weeks later in Lewiston.

Third seed Williams (7-2 NESCAC, 18-6 overall) will meet sixth seed Middlebury (4-5 NESCAC, 11-13 overall). The Ephs dropped a two-point decision to Bowdoin on the final day of the regular season in a game which saw visiting Williams lead by as many as 19 during the second half.

Fifth seed Amherst (4-5 NESCAC, 13-10 overall) will travel to fourth seed Wesleyan (6-3 NESCAC, 20-3 overall). The Cardinals, whose only losses on the year are to Bates, Bowdoin and Williams, defeated the Jeffs twice during the regular season 54-44 in Middletown and 50-42 in Amherst.

The top eight teams qualify for the NESCAC Championship. Predetermined tie-breaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical records. Quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinals at the highest remaining seed on Saturday, February 26. Teams are rebracketed entering the semifinal round. The NESCAC Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.

2005 NESCAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Quarterfinals - Saturday, Feb. 19 at Higher Seeds
No. 8 Trinity at No. 1 Bowdoin - 2:00 p.m.
No. 7 Tufts at No. 2 Bates - 4:00 p.m.
No. 6 Middlebury at No. 3 Williams - 3:00 p.m.
No. 5 Amherst at No. 4 Wesleyan - 3:00 p.m.

Semifinals - Saturday, Feb. 26 at Highest Remaining Seed
Highest remaining vs. lowest remaining seed - 2:00 p.m.
Remaining quarterfinal winners - 4:00 p.m.

Championship - Sunday, Feb. 27
Semifinal winners - 12:00 p.m.