| Jeniyah Jones and Rhode Island College are setting sail for the Elite 8 for the first time in program history. Photo by Rhode Island College athletics |
Five New England teams advanced through the sectional semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament on Friday night, with Rhode Island College, Smith and Trinity (Conn.) booking their first ever trips to the Elite 8.
- Sectional semifinal scoreboard: Men | Women
- Tournament brackets: Men | Women
- More headlines: Men | Women
The Anchorwomen started strong, shooting 64 percent from the field and hitting two 3-pointers in the first period. RIC held Chicago to three field goals in the second quarter and took a 32-20 lead into the locker room. Chicago stormed back in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 49-47 on Marissa Powe’s three-pointer at the end of the period. But the Anchorwomen opened the final quarter with threes from Izabelle Booth, Jeniyah Jones, and Antonia Corsinetti. RIC held Chicago off the scoreboard for the first six minutes of the period and pulled away for the win.
Rhode Island College (27-3) shot 53 percent from three and got 17 points from Angelina Nardolillo. Grace Hynes posted a double-double for the Maroons (21 points, 11 rebounds).
No. 4 Smith, which lost in the Elite 8 in gut-wrenching fashion last season, nearly suffered the same fate in the 2023 Tournament, but this time the Pioneers persevered and outlasted Mary Washington, 68-65, in overtime.
Smith looked like it was going to cruise into the Elite 8 when Morgan Morrison's layup gave the Pioneers a 56-39 lead early in the fourth quarter. Mary Washington came alive, as Ashley Martin hit a three-pointer and ignited 15-0 run for the Eagles. After Sydney Sherman's layup pulled Mary Washington within two, Ally Yamada split a pair of free throws that put Smith ahead, 57-54. Elizabeth Dufrane answered with a three-pointer for the Eagles and sent the game to overtime.
The teams battled back in forth in the extra period with Smith taking a 65-63 lead late, then Jordan Carpenter tying the game with 13 seconds left. The Pioneers brought the ball up after Carpenter's second free throw and found Yamada for the game-winning three with one second left.
The Pioneers (29-1) will host No. 20 Trinity (Conn.) in a rematch from earlier this season which Smith won 71-68 in overtime in November.
The Bantams punched their ticket to the Elite 8 with a 63-56 win over No. 17 UW-Whitewater. After the teams battled to a 42-all tie through three quarters, Trinity took a seven-point lead early in the fourth, only to see the Warhawks tie the game at 52 on Kacie Carollo's three-pointer. UW-Whitewater briefly took a 56-55 lead on Yssa Santa Domingo's free throw midway through the period, but that was the last point that the Bantams allowed. Trinity regained the lead on back-to-back baskets by Emma Wax and Bria Fuller and eventually put the game away at the foul line.
Wax led Trinity (25-5) with 16 points and eight rebounds while Carollo dazzled with 28 points for UW-Whitewater (23-7).
No. 21 Tufts shut down No. 5 Trinity (Texas) in the fourth quarter and pulled away for a 65-52 victory in front of an energetic home crowd at Cousens Gymnasium. The teams played to a near stand-still through three quarters, with Tufts taking a 47-45 lead into the fourth quarter. The Tigers missed a series of open layups early in the period and Tufts clamped down from there, holding Trinity off the scoreboard until the game was well in hand.
Maggie Russell poured in 32 points and grabbed 21 rebounds for the Jumbos (24-6). Josie Napoli paced Trinity (28-2) with 16 points.
Both undefeated teams stayed perfect with convincing wins.
No. 1 Christopher Newport advanced to the Elite 8 with a 60-51 victory over No. 24 Wartburg at the sectional hosted by Tufts. CNU All-American Sondra Fan scored 12 points in a first quarter, closing the period with a three that put the Captains in front 21-9. Wartburg found its footing and cut CNU’s lead to nine on Jaedon Murphy’s four-point play late in the third period. But the Captains closed that period on a 4-0 run and were not threatened in the fourth quarter.
Camille Malagar celebrated her birthday with 12 points and eight rebounds while Hannah Ortloff added 12 rebounds, eight blocks and six points off the bench for Christopher Newport (29-0). Murphy had a double-double for Wartburg (23-7), including the 1000th point of her career.
No. 2 Transylvania rolled over No. 16 Ohio Northern, 67-43, and upped its record to 30-0. The Pioneers held the Polar Bears to fewer field goals (17) than turnovers (20) and had four starters score double figures. Laken Bell paced Transylvania with 16 points in 24 minutes. Brooke Allen scored 15 points for Ohio Northern (25-5).
No. 6 New York University also used stifling defense to defeat No. 14 Trine, 66-49, in the first game at Transylvania’s sectional. The Violets held Trine to four field goals in the first quarter, four in the second, and three in the third. Natalie Bruns racked up 16 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for NYU (25-2). Sidney Wagner led Trine (23-7) with 15 points.
No. 13 Babson ousted Marietta from the Tournament, 73-59. After a close first period, the Beavers scored the first 12 points of the second quarter and took a 31-17 lead on two free throws by Megan Bauman. Devin Heffner pulled the Pioneers within six with two free throws in the closing minute of the third period, but Katelyn Mollica and Bauman hit threes to regain control for Babson. Kelly Walsh filled the stat sheet with 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists for Babson (26-5) which hosts Rhode Island College tomorrow. Heffner scored 12 points off the bench for Marietta (22-8).
With Trine and UW-Whitewater eliminated, this will be the first NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament without a team making back-to-back national semifinal appearances since 2009.