UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's basketball team will continue their quest for their second North Atlantic Conference Championship on Saturday. The Wildcats, the #1 seed from the West will take on the #1 seed from the East Maine Maritime. The game will be played at Maine Maritime on February 24th with a 1:00 PM tip-off time. The winner will receive the NAC's AQ bid to the NCAA DIII Championship Tournament.
HOW THEY GOT HERE:
SUNY Poly had an overall record of 13-12 in the regular season with an 11-3 record in NAC play. They earned the #1 seed in the West Division after going a perfect 10-0 in divisional play. In the first round of the NAC Tournament, the Wildcats beat #4 NVU-Johnson 64-50. In the second round, the Wildcats matched up with the #2 seed in the West SUNY Cobleskill. The Wildcats won the game 51-45 to win the West Division Championship for the second consecutive year.
Maine Maritime went 21-6 this season with a 13-1 record in NAC play and a 9-1 record in East Division play. They earned the #1 seed in the East. In the first round, the Mariners walloped NVU-Lyndon 100-34 to advance to the NAC East Championship game. Maine Maritime beat the #2 seeded Husson Eagles 52-49 in a tight game to win the East.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
- SUNY Poly's Molly Burdick averaged a double-double this season with 21.1 points and 12.1 rebounds. So far this post-season Burdick has scored 39 points, pulled down 39 rebounds, dished out six assists, blocked four shots, and had two steals. Burdick is the Wildcat's all-time leading scorer and the all-time leading rebounder.
- Lyrik Jackson has stepped up late in the season to be the Wildcat's primary ball-handler. This season she was second on her team in scoring with 413 points. She was also second in assists and second in steals. This postseason Jackson has averaged 19 points per game.
- Maria Barela is the Mariner's leading scorer this season with 326 points. She is one of four players on Maine Maritime's roster who have hit more than 50 3-pointers.
- Erianna Moore, Grace Huntwork, and Evelyn Dagan have knocked down 53, 52, and 50 3-pointers this season respectively.
- Lauren Plissey is the Mariner's rebounding leader with 192 this season. She shot 55% from the floor this season and had a team-high 49 blocks.
The two team's styles are diametrically opposed which should make for an interesting game. The Wildcats like to score in the paint, utilizing their size and ability to finish at the rim to their advantage. They also rebound the ball at an extremely high level. Poly had the second-most rebounds in the NAC this season and had the most offensive rebounds in the conference.
Maine Maritime likes to spread the floor and shoot the three-ball. They took more 3-point shots than any other team in the NAC and had a conference-best .365 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Maine Maritime also had the best shooting percentage in the NAC at .428.
Both teams play solid defensively. Maritime allowed the lowest opponent field goal percentage in the conference (.320). The Wildcats were not far behind at .350. Maritime also led the NAC in blocked shots with 130. SUNY Poly was third in the NAC with 109.
Both teams fared well in the NAC Post-season Awards. SUNY Poly had two All-Conference players. Molly Burdick was a First Team selection and Lyrik Jackson Earned Second Team honors. Maine Maritime had three players named to All-Conference Teams and their Head Coach Craig Dagan was named the NAC Coach of the Year. Lauren Plissey was a First Team player. Maria Barela and Erianna Moore were Second Team honorees.
The game will be played at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 25th at Maine Maritime. Check the Wildcat's schedule for live coverage links for the game.
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SUNY Poly is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience programs at its Albany campus, and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, game design, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica campus; thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and hundreds of corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.