On Monday, the Baldwin-Wallace women's team fell out of the Top 25. As it turned out, that was the least of its troubles.
On a night when championship week really got going, and all ranked teams triumphed in conference tournament play, the biggest news was that an OAC power fell to an up-and-comer. Alicia Williams scored 23 points, including the game-winning basket with a minute left as No. 6 seed Mount Union upset No. 3 seed Baldwin-Wallace, 65-61. The Yellowjackets, who started 13-1 (and beat the Purple Raiders handily twice), are dead in the water for the NCAA Tournament at 19-7. Their streak of 11 consecutive 20-win seasons ends. Suzy Venet, a 1998 D3hoops.com All-American, coaches her team into the OAC semis where it draws Capital.
La Verne clinched the first automatic bid of the 2006-07 season, defeating Occidental 78-68 to wrap up the SCIAC women's title. It's their first trip to the tournament since 2003.
In one of the night's oddities, we had a pair of No. 6 vs. No. 3 upsets involving the same schools. Tony Barros scored a career-high 48 points as defending LEC champ U-Mass Boston began to make up for a struggle of a regular season by edging No. 3 seed Western Connecticut. The Colonials' women earned back a little school pride by pounding the No. 3 seeded Beacons by 35 in their quarterfinal matchup.
Mike Hoyt's collegiate career at Mount St. Mary concluded with a 30-point effort in a loss at Skyline top seed Manhattanville. The sub 6-foot guard finishes with 2,586 career points, No. 8 in Division III history. (For more, check the Daily Dose.) On the other end of the spectrum heightwise, UW-Stout's 7-foot Nonemacher twins (John and Jacob) combined for 30 points but couldn't topple No. 18 UW-La Crosse in the WIAC quarterfinals. One men's final is set: Immaculata won again and heads to the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title game at Alvernia on Friday night. The Mighty Macs started 1-10 but have finished strong. Simpson rallied from a 10-point deficit with 1:48 left to force overtime, where it beat Central to advance to the IIAC semifinals. The New Paltz women rallied from 12 down with 43 seconds left to force overtime and beat Geneseo State 85-77. The Hawks advance to play Cortland State.
Elsewhere on the women's side: Baruch and Lehman will meet in the CUNYAC final (which will be broadcast on D3hoops.com) after each won on Tuesday. The Bearcats netted their 31st straight win against league foes, while the No. 3 seed Lightning needed OT to prevail against John Jay. Salve Regina won its 17th consecutive game, beating Wentworth Tech 53-35.
More scores available on our men's and women's scoreboards. Plus, check the new Live Games box at right for games being broadcast, those being updated live and others with live stats. (SIDs can post their links by logging in, as they have been able to do all season.)