UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly Wildcats are once again the #1 seed in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) West Division. After finishing their divisional schedule 10-0, the Wildcats clinched the right to host the first and second rounds of the NAC Championship Tournament. #1 SUNY Poly will host #4 NVU-Johnson on Friday, February 17th at the Campus Center Gym. The game is scheduled for a 5:30 PM tip-off.
The Wildcats and the NVU-Johnson Badgers have met twice this season with the Wildcats winning both games. Their first matchup was an 81-62 home win for Poly. Molly Burdick led the Wildcats with a career-high 34 points in the game and surpassed 1,500 career points. In the second game, both Molly Burdick and Kierra Connor recorded double-doubles to lead the Wildcats to a 69-57 win on the road.
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
- If the Wildcats' big three are effective, the Wildcats will be in great shape. SUNY Poly's all-time leading scorer and all-time leading rebounder Molly Burdick has averaged 21 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Lyrik Jackson has averaged 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Kierra Connor has averaged 9.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. If they play well, they will be hard to beat.
- The Wildcats need to dominate in the paint with size and skill. Two players in the Wildcats front court are over 6' and both average double-digit rebounds and shoot a high percentage from the field.
- Tough defense will create opportunities. The Wildcats have allowed just 59 points per game this season. They are third in the NAC in blocked shots as a team.
- Poly has dominated the West Division this season with a perfect 10-0 record with a 22.4 point average margin of victory. If they play their game, they will have a great chance to advance.
THE TOURNAMENT:
The first two rounds of the NAC Championship Tournament are the "Divisional Championships". The Wildcats are in the West Division bracket with #2 SUNY Cobleskill, #3 SUNY Canton, and #4 NVU-Johnson. On the other side of the bracket, the East Division competitors are #1 Maine Maritime, #2 Husson, #3 UMaine-Presque Isle, and #4 NVU-Lyndon. The winners of the first round will face off on Saturday for the Divisional Championship. The two Divisional Champions will meet on Saturday, February 25th for the NAC Championship Game. The winner of the NAC Championship game will receive the conference's AQ bid for the NCAA DIII National Championship Tournament.
*************************************************************************************************************
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.