NEW LONDON, N.H. - February 22, 2016 – The Colby-Sawyer women's basketball team earned the sixth seed in the 2015-16 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) tournament and will travel to third seed Maine Maritime on Tuesday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the first round.

To view the full NAC release - click HERE

For the Interactive Tournament Bracket - click HERE

For the Printable (PDF) Tournament Bracket – click HERE

The Chargers (12-13, 9-9 NAC) and Maine Maritime (17-8, 13-5) will meet for the third time this season and for the second time in the NAC Tournament. Colby-Sawyer earned a 51-47 win in Castine on December 12, but then fell to the Mariners at home on January 29, 58-53. In the only postseason meeting between the two sides, Colby-Sawyer secured a 67-61 overtime victory over Maine Maritime in the semifinals of the 2013-14 NAC tournament.  

Watch Tuesday's game - HERE

Colby-Sawyer is led by senior Jessica Shenkel (Sharon, Mass.). She averages 10.7 points and has made a team best 49 three-pointers. Junior Lexi Iannone (North Haven, Conn.) is the second on the team with 9.1 points per game and 41 made three-pointers. Junior Kristin Ellis (South Easton, Mass.) leads the Chargers in rebounds (8.0 rpg), steals (40) and assists (62).  

Maine Maritime is led by the conference's leading scorer and six-time NAC Rookie of the Week freshman Alayne Felix (Mahopac, N.Y.). She averages 17.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Junior Kristi Willey (Topsham, Maine) is second on the team with 7.7 points and 5.1 boards per game.  

Husson (19-6, 17-1) claimed the top seed in the conference tournament and will earn a bye in Tuesday's quarterfinal round. Second-seeded Castleton (20-5 overall, 15-3 NAC) will also earn a bye in the quarterfinals.
Maine Maritime (17-8, 13-5) claimed the No. 3 seed, while New England College (18-7, 12-6), University of Maine at Farmington (11-14, 9-9), and Colby-Sawyer (12-13, 9-9) earned the No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 seeds respectively to complete the six-team tournament field.

NAC predetermined tiebreaking procedures were used to seed teams with identical conference winning percentages.

Two quarterfinal contests will be played on Tuesday, as No. 4 New England College will host No. 5 UMaine-Farmington at 6:00 p.m., while No. 3 Maine Maritime will host No. 6 Colby-Sawyer at 6:30 p.m.

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Friday, February 26, at top-seeded Husson. No. 2 Castleton will take on the winner of the Maine Maritime vs. Colby-Sawyer quarterfinal contest at 1:00 p.m., while Husson will play the winner of the New England College vs. UMaine-Farmington quarterfinal at 3:00 p.m.

Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, February 27, at 2:00 p.m. at Husson. The Women's Championship will be followed by the Men's Championship at 4:30 p.m.

The NAC Women's Basketball Champion will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship.

2016 NAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
 
Quarterfinals • Tuesday, February 23 (at higher seeds)
No. 5 UMaine-Farmington (12-13, 11-14) at No. 4 New England College (18-7, 12-6) – 6:00 pm
No. 6 Colby-Sawyer (12-13, 9-9) at No. 3 Maine Maritime (17-8, 13-5) – 6:30 pm
 
Semifinals • Friday, February 26 (at Husson)
4/5 winner at No. 1 Husson (19-6, 17-1) – 3:00 pm
3/6 winner vs. No. 2 Castleton (20-5, 15-3) – 1:00 pm
 
Championship • Saturday, February 27 (at Husson)
Semifinal Winners – 2:00 pm

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