New York University will continue its journey through the bracket of the 2009 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship on Friday, March 13, when it tips off against Amherst College in a Sweet 16 game at 7 p.m. at Amherst's Lefrak Gymnasium.
This will be the 13th trip to the sectional semifinals for the Violets (23-4), ranked #14 by D3Hoops.com and #16 in the USA Today ESPN Division III Coaches' Poll, and first since they went to the 2007 Final Four. NYU posted impressive victories over Salve Regina University (80-55) and Stevens Institute of Technology (71-57) to advance through the first two rounds last weekend at its Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in New York.
The winner of the NYU-Amherst (27-2) contest will face the winner of the other sectional semifinal between Brandeis University (19-7) and Muhlenberg College (26-3) in the Elite 8 on Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m. Tickets for all games are $7 for adults and $4 for children, senior citizens and students.
In their opening-round victories, the Violets received stellar inside play from Grace Carmen and Christine Kilmurray. Carmen averaged 18.5 points in the two contests, including a career-high 22 in just 19 minutes against Salve Regina. Meanwhile, Kilmurray averaged 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds off the bench, featuring a double-double against Salve Regina (career-high 13 points, 11 boards).
In addition, Jessica McEntee, the three-time University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year and a finalist for the State Farm Coaches' Division III All-America Basketball Team, showed off the strong inside-outside game that has made her a prime candidated for national player of the year honors. The 5-11 captain averaged 17.0 points and 12.5 rebounds last weekend, recording double-doubles in both games to bring her career total to 50 in 107 games. McEntee hit a career-high five three-pointers en route to a 22-points, 13-rebound effort against Stevens.
Ranked #8 in the USA Today ESPN poll and #11 by D3Hoops.com, Amherst is making its second straight Sweet 16 appearance after breezing through its first two games against Babson College (77-54) and Emmanuel College (77-36). Jacki Daigneault, also a finalist for the State Farm Coaches' Division III All-America team, leads the Lord Jeffs in scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). Freshman center Lem Atanga McCormick (9.2 ppg) scored 17 points in each of her first two NCAA games while shooting 70 percent (14-for-20) from the floor.
