The SUNY Cortland women’s basketball team has been selected to compete in the 64-team NCAA Division III tournament and will open play against the University of Rochester on Friday, March 5, at Rochester. Game time is 8 p.m.
The other first-round game at Rochester Friday features William Paterson University of New Jersey (25-2) and Mary Washington University of Virginia (21-5) at 6 p.m.. Friday’s winners will play Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Rochester, with that winner advancing to the tournament’s “sweet 16.”
The Red Dragons (25-3) earned their playoff berth by virtue of winning the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament on Saturday. Cortland is making its 10th NCAA tournament appearance and its eighth in head coach Jeannette Mosher’s 12 seasons as head coach.
Cortland advanced to the NCAA second round last season. The Red Dragons defeated St. Lawrence in the opening round at Scranton before losing to the host Lady Royals. Cortland hosted an NCAA regional in 2007 and defeated Medaille in the first round before losing to Rochester. Cortland’s best national finishes were “sweet 16” placements in both 1992 and 2001. Cortland is 0-3 versus Rochester in NCAA play, losing on the road in both the 2004 second round and 2006 first round in addition to its second-round home loss in 2007.
Rochester, Mary Washington and William Paterson were all at-large “Pool C” selections into the tournament field. Rochester finished third in the University Athletic Association (UAA) behind Washington (Mo.) and Chicago, both NCAA qualifiers. The UAA does not hold a postseason tournament. Mary Washington finished second in the Capital Athletic Conference tournament and William Paterson placed second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.
Cortland is led by two-time SUNYAC Player of the Year Jessica Laing (Bloomville/South Kortright), who averages 20.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. Laing was also the SUNYAC tournament MVP last weekend and enters NCAA play with career totals of 2,146 points and 1,296 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Micki Volpini (Newfield), a first-team All-SUNYAC selection, averages 13.5 points and 2.8 steals per game. Sophomore Allyson Biordi (Beacon) averages 6.5 points per game, leads the team with nearly three assists per contest and ranks second with 31 three-pointers. Rounding out the starting five are senior guard Miranda Lustig (Medford/Patchogue-Medford) (6.1 points and 2.7 assists per game) and sophomore forward Mary Bruns (Brooklyn/Bishop Ford) (5.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game).
Off the bench, junior forward Jennifer Patten (Bainbridge/Bainbridge-Guilford) averages 7.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game and junior guard Jen Polan (Westhampton/Westhampton Beach) averages four points per game and is third on the team with 27 three-pointers.
Complete Bracket (PDF)
Interactive Tournament Bracket