America East Women’s Tournament Preview

It’s evolved into a two-team race at the top of America East this season, with UAlbany and Vermont seemingly on a collision course for a meeting with the NCAA Tournament berth on the line. However, it should still be a very competitive final week in the conference.

Schedule

Quarterfinals | Thursday, March 6 | ESPN+

No. 7 UMBC at No. 2 Vermont, 5 p.m., Burlington, Vt.

No. 6 Binghamton at No. 3 Bryant, 6 p.m., Smithfield, R.I.

No. 5 NJIT at No. 4 Maine, 6 p.m., Orono, Maine

No. 8 New Hampshire at No. 1 UAlbany, 6:30 p.m., Albany, N.Y.

Semifinals | Monday, March 10 | ESPN+

Lowest remaining seed AT Highest remaining seed

Third highest remaining seed AT Second highest remaining seed

Finals | Friday, March 14 | ESPNU

Lower seeded semifinal winner AT Higher seeded semifinal winner, 5 p.m.

Here is one sentence about each team.

1. UAlbany (14-2 America East, 24-5 overall)

Colleen Mullen runs the Great Danes as a terrific collective unit on the defensive end, but it’s superstar Kayla Cooper who makes this team tick. She leads the way in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

2. Vermont (13-3 America East, 18-12 overall)

Another slow-paced, defensive-oriented team, the Catamounts held opponents below 50 points in 10 of the 16 games during America East play, including below 40 three times.

3. Bryant (9-7 America East, 16-13 overall)

Coming into the tournament winners of three in a row, including a win over Vermont in late February, the Bulldogs have been up and down all year and seem to be playing on a high as the games get bigger.

4. Maine (9-7 America East, 14-15 overall)

The reigning champs of America East, Maine started off 7-0 in conference play, beating Vermont before stumbling down the stretch with five losses in the last seven games. Can the Black Bears recapture the magic of last year’s run?

5. NJIT (8-8America East, 11-18 overall)

A black sheep of sorts in the league, trying to play fast as the rest of the conference slows the game down, NJIT is led by junior star Alejandra Zuniga and a stout offense. Watch out for freshman Olivia Kulyk. The sharpshooter needs to be at her best if the Highlanders will make a run.

6. Binghamton (7-9 America East, 15-14 overall)

The Bearcats don’t have a single player who averages double figures, but five different Binghamton players are between 7.6 and 9.6. Binghamton’s zone defense can force offenses into an off night, but now teams have seen it twice and can gameplan for it.

7. UMBC (7-9 America East, 14-14 overall)

On Saturday, the Retrievers lost by 20 to Vermont in Burlington. On Thursday, they have to go all the way back up to the shore of Lake Champlain to take on the Catamounts. UMBC is struggling defensively during the current three-game losing streak, despite holding opponents to just seven 3-point attempts per game over the last two.

8. New Hampshire (4-12 America East, 10-19 overall)

Sophomore star Eva DeChent is the catalyst for the Wildcats. She averages 17.9 points per game, while nobody else averages more than 8.6. If UNH is going to pull off the stunning upset over UAlbany, it starts with DeChent.