2025 NAC Women's Basketball Tournament Preview

2/20/2025 10:31:29 AM

WATERVILLE, Maine – Maine Maritime Academy and SUNY Cobleskill have secured the top seeds in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Mariners, with a perfect 13-0 record in conference play, claim the top spot in the NAC East Division, while the Fighting Tigers notched an 11-2 record to pace the NAC West Division. Both teams will host a pair of NAC Tournament quarterfinal contests on Friday, February 21, followed by their respective division championships on Saturday, February 22. COMPLETE BRACKET

SEE TEAM CAPSULES BELOW

Maine Maritime enters the tournament riding a 32-game winning streak against conference opponents and is seeking its third consecutive NAC Championship. Last season, the Mariners posted the same 13-0 conference record before going on to secure the title with a 78-62 victory over SUNY Cobleskill in the championship game in Castine. Meanwhile, SUNY Cobleskill, which finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 21-4 overall record, will serve as the West Division pod host for the second straight year. Last February, the Fighting Tigers claimed the West Division crown with dominant wins over SUNY Morrisville and SUNY Canton before falling to Maine Maritime in the NAC Championship.

The top four teams in the NAC East and West divisions qualify for the NAC Championship tournament. Quarterfinals and semifinals occur divisionally, at the site of each division’s #1 seed. Pairings for the quarterfinal round are #1 versus #4, and #2 versus #3 in each division.

In quarterfinal action at Maine Maritime on Friday, the top-seeded Mariners will face #4 Thomas College (7-6 NAC, 7-17) at 5:30 PM while #2 Husson University (11-2 NAC, 14-11) takes on #3 UMaine-Farmington (7-6 NAC, 11-13) in a 7:30 PM start.

In quarterfinal play at SUNY Cobleskill on Friday, the Fighting Tigers will take on #4 VTSU-Johnson (2-11 NAC, 3-21) at 5:30 PM while #2 VTSU-Lyndon (7-6 NAC, 10-13) battles #3 Lesley University (4-9 NAC, 9-15) in a 7:30 PM tip-off.

The winners of the Maine Maritime / Thomas and Husson / UMaine-Farmington quarterfinal matchups will face off in the NAC East Division Championship on the Mariners’ home court on Saturday, at 2:00 PM. Similarly, the victors of the SUNY Cobleskill / VTSU-Johnson and VTSU-Lyndon / Lesley University quarterfinal contests will duel in the NAC West Division Championship on the Fighting Tigers’ court on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

The West Division Champion will host the East Division winner in the 2025 NAC Championship on Saturday, March 1st at 1:00 PM.

The NAC Champion earns an automatic qualifier into the 2025 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament, which begins on Friday, March 7th.

EAST DIVISION (HOSTED BY MAINE MARITIME)
Quarterfinals: Friday, February 21, 2025
#1 Maine Maritime, 69 #4 Thomas College, 45 - BOX
#2 Husson University, 77 #3 UMaine-Farmington, 64 - BOX

Semifinals: Saturday, February 22, 2025
#1 Maine Maritime vs. #2 Husson University, 2:00 PM

WEST DIVISION (HOSTED BY SUNY COBLESKILL):
Quarterfinals: Friday, February 21, 2025
#1 SUNY Cobleskill, 92 #4 VTSU-Johnson, 30 - BOX
#2 VTSU-Lyndon, 58 #3 Lesley University, 62 - BOX

Semifinals: Saturday, February 22, 2025
#1 SUNY Cobleskill vs. #3 Lesley University, 2:00 PM

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, March 1, 2025
West Division winner vs. East Division winner: 1:00 PM (at highest remaining seed in WEST)

EAST DIVISION

#1 Maine Maritime Academy (13-0 NAC, 21-4 Overall)
Head Coach: Craig Dagan (24th Season, 416-203)
NAC Championships: (3) 2005, 2023, 2024
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Defeated Thomas in NAC Quarterfinal, 101-43; defeated Husson in NAC Semifinal, 67-61 (OT), defeated SUNY Cobleskill in NAC Championship, 78-62

Leaders:
Scoring: #33 Sydney Briscoe (11.8 PPG)
Rebounding: Briscoe (9.9 RPG)
Assists: #11 Erianna Moore (4.4 APG)
Steals: Briscoe (1.1 SPG)
Blocks: #30 Jasmine Anderson (0.9 BPG)

NOTES: The Mariners boast a balanced offense with three players averaging 10+ PPG and a stingy defense allowing a conference-low 51.5 PPG through25 games…Maine Maritime leads the NAC with a 1.10 assist/turnover ratio…Sydney Briscoe (2x NAC Defensive Player of the Week), Erianna Moore (NAC Player and Defensive Player honors), and Addison Forry (2x NAC Rookie of the Week) highlight individual accolades…The Mariners are 12-1 at home, unbeaten there since Dec. 1 vs. Keene State, and have won 32 straight games against NAC opponents dating back to Feb. 11, 2023 – the fourth longest active streak in NCAA DIII…MMA also ranks seventh in the country in three-pointers per game (8.8), with junior guard Evelyn Dagan leading the charge with 75 three-pointers made this winter.

#2 Husson University (11-2 NAC, 14-11 Overall)
Head Coach: Kissy Walker (36th Season, 602-308)
NAC Championships: (7) 2010, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Defeated UMaine-Presque Isle in NAC Quarterfinal, 69-54; lost to Maine Maritime in East Division Championship, 67-61 (OT)

Leaders:
Scoring: #22 Hannah Richards (7.9 PPG)
Rebounding: #15 Jordyn Lengle (7.8 RPG)
Assists: Richards (3.4 APG)
Steals: Lengle (1.8 SPG)
Blocks: #30 Mazie Peach (0.7 BPG)

Notes: The Eagles boast one of the deepest rosters in the conference and leverage their depth effectively…Head Coach Kissy Walker utilizes a rotation of 11 players, each averaging at least 10 minutes per game, with no one exceeding 21 minutes per contest…This balanced approach has propelled the Eagles to eighth in NCAA DIII in bench points per game (33.0)…Nine Husson players have surpassed the 100-point mark this season, including senior guard Lauren Cook, the team's premier three-point shooter who has knocked down 46 triples at an impressive 36.8% from beyond the arc…Husson has won 11 of their last 13 games.

#3 UMaine-Farmington (7-6 NAC, 11-13 Overall)
Head Coach: Nate Carson (4th Season, 30-61)
NAC Championships: (3) 2004, 2006, 2007
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Did not qualify

Leaders:
Scoring: #22 Jessica Dow (13.0 PPG)
Rebounding: #32 Sarah Poli (7.2 RPG)
Assists: Dow (3.1 APG)
Steals: Dow (2.4 SPG)
Blocks: Dow (1.2 BPG)

Notes: The Beavers feature five players averaging more than 7.0 points per game…Sophomore forward Jessica Dow is having a breakout season, ranking among the conference leaders in multiple categories, including assists, assist/turnover ratio, steals, blocks, and free throws made…Her standout performances have earned her four NAC weekly accolades, including three Defensive Player of the Week honors…Freshman guard Jaydn Pingree is a top contender for NAC Rookie of the Year, averaging 11.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while securing four NAC Rookie of the Week awards, the most of any first-year player this season.

#4 Thomas College (7-6 NAC, 7-17 Overall)
Head Coach: Jason Coleman (3rd Season, 20-54)
NAC Championships: None
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Lost to Maine Maritime in NAC Quarterfinal, 101-43

Leaders:
Scoring: #12 Sky Kubwalo (11.1 PPG)
Rebounding: Kubwalo (6.4 RPG)
Assists: #4 Mariah Roberts (1.9 APG)
Steals: #24 Yaribel Pena (1.8 SPG)
Blocks: #20 Elena Alderman (0.7 BPG)

Notes: The Terriers make full use of their depth, with 11 players averaging more than 10 minutes of playing time per game…Senior forward Sky Kubwalo leads the Thomas offensive attack, averaging 11.1 PPG despite playing just 22.2 minutes per game…Freshman forward Mollie Gray has emerged as a key contributor down the stretch, earning NAC Rookie of the Week honors after a standout performance against UMaine-Presque Isle last Sunday, when she recorded 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists in just 24 minutes.

WEST DIVISION

#1 SUNY Cobleskill (11-2 NAC, 21-4 Overall)
Head Coach: Megan Bowman (6th Season, 89-42)
NAC Championships: None (2024 Runner-up)
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Defeated SUNY Morrisville in NAC Quarterfinal, 68-43; defeated SUNY Canton in NAC West Championship, 76-33; lost to Maine Maritime in NAC Championship, 78-62

Leaders:
Scoring: #50 Logan Thayne (18.3 PPG)
Rebounding: Thayne (12.8 RPG)
Assists: #15 Cara Walker (3.2 APG)
Steals: #1 Antonia May (1.8 SPG)
Blocks: Thayne (2.0 BPG)

NOTES: The Fighting Tigers have won 22 straight home games – the sixth-longest active streak in NCAA DIII - with their last loss coming in a 68-65 defeat to Westfield State on December 13, 2023…SUNY Cobleskill ranks sixth nationally in total points (1,876) and offensive rebounds per game (18.5)…ninth in overall rebounds per game (47.32)…10th in blocks per game (5.4)…and 11th in rebounding margin (+11.0)…Senior center Logan Thayne, the reigning NAC Player of the Year and recipient of eight NAC weekly awards this year, leads the nation with 22 double-doubles this season…also topping the NAC in blocks (48) and free throw percentage (84.7%).

#2 VTSU-Lyndon (7-6 NAC, 10-14 Overall)
Head Coach: Brennen Morton (2nd Season, 21-28)
NAC Championships: None
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Did not qualify

Leaders:
Scoring: #21 Sage Smith (19.7 PPG)
Rebounding: #34 Kiara Mack (6.6 RPG)
Assists: #11 Ella Huntington (3.6 APG)
Steals: Huntington (2.2 SPG)
Blocks: Mack (1.3 BPG)

NOTES: The Hornets enter the 2025 tournament having won five of their last six conference contests, including three triumphs in a matter of just six days…Senior guard Sage Smith leads the NAC in scoring average (19.7 PPG), points (473), minutes per game (35.95), and field goals made (167) and attempted (408)…Smith, a three-time NAC Player of the Week selection this year, scored 42 points against SUNY Delhi on January 25th, the most in a game by any NAC player this winter.

#3 Lesley University (4-9 NAC, 10-15 Overall)
Head Coach: Martin Rather (2nd Season, 11-38)
NAC Championships: None
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Did not qualify

Leaders:
Scoring: #23 Bella Terry (12.7 PPG)
Rebounding: Terry (9.6 RPG)
Assists: #10 Madalynn Biagi (4.1 APG)
Steals: #1 Leila Chisholm (2.8 SPG)
Blocks: Terry (1.6 BPG)

NOTES: Second-year Head Coach Martin Rather has led the Lynx to a remarkable turnaround, improving from a 1-23 record last season to 10-15 this year…Junior post player Bella Terry ranks among the conference leaders in blocks (40)…blocks per game (1.6 BPG)…double-doubles (14)…field goal attempts (329)…free throw attempts (120)…rebounds (239)…and rebounding average (9.6 RPG)…Terry has been named NAC Defensive Player of the Week twice this season…First-year guard Jaira Moore, who averages 6.8 PPG, has earned two NAC Rookie of the Week honors.

#4 VTSU-Johnson (2-11 NAC, 3-21 Overall)
Head Coach: Greg Eckman (14th Season, 78-249)
NAC Championships: None
2024 NAC Tournament Results: Did not qualify

Leaders:
Scoring: #40 Kristie Zator (16.9 PPG)
Rebounding: Zator (8.2 RPG)
Assists: #12 Cris Sandlin (1.7 APG)
Steals: #50 Riann Fortin (1.9 SPG)
Blocks: Fortin (0.4 BPG)

NOTES: Junior forward Kristie Zator, a mid-year transfer from MCLA, joins senior forward Riann Fortin as a formidable 1-2 punch for the Badgers, combining to average 31.5 PPG…Zator hit nine three-pointers against UMaine-Presque Isle on January 20, the most by any conference player this season…Fortin, who averages 14.6 PPG, became the 10th player in Johnson history to reach the 1,000-point milestone in mid-January.

NAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS:

YEAR	CHAMPION	RUNNER-UP	TOURNAMENT MVP
2004	Maine Farmington	Husson	Kari Sampson, UMF
2005	Maine Maritime	UMaine-Farmington	Shelley Gott, MMA
2006	Maine Farmington	Maine Maritime	Kari Sampson, UMF
2007	Maine Farmington	Maine Maritime	Kari Sampson, UMF
2008	Becker	Maine Maritime	Beth Pion, Becker
2009	Castleton	Husson	Mary Nienow, Castleton
2010	Husson	Castleton State	Amanda Gifford, Husson
2011	Husson	Castleton State	Amanda Gifford, Husson
2012	Castleton	Colby-Sawyer	Vanessa Powers, Castleton
2013	Colby-Sawyer	Castleton	Taylor DeSanty, Colby-Sawyer
2014	Castleton	Colby-Sawyer	Jade Desroches, Castleton
2015	Castleton	New England College	Meghan O'Sullivan, Castleton
2016	Husson	Castleton	Kenzie Worcester, Husson
2017	Husson	New England College	Kenzie Worcester, Husson
2018	Husson	Maine Maritime	Kenzie Worcester, Husson
2019	Husson	Maine Maritime	Kenzie Worcester, Husson
2020	Husson	UMaine-Farmington	Sydney Allen, Husson
2022	SUNY Poly	Husson	Lyrik Jackson, SUNY Poly
2023	Maine Maritime	SUNY Poly	Erianna Moore, MMA
2024	Maine Maritime	SUNY Cobleskill	Erianna Moore, MMA