Eighth-year head coach Mary Ellen Burt and
her Dutchwomen will reap the rewards of winning Union's first-ever Upstate
Collegiate Athletic Association women's basketball championship as they host
the conference's four-team postseason tournament Friday night and Saturday
afternoon. The winner of the event will receive the UCAA's automatic berth in
the NCAA event.
Union will play No.
4 William Smith (8-6 // 13-11) Friday at 8 p.m. with No. 2 St.
Lawrence (11-3 // 20-5) meeting No.
3 Rensselaer (11-3 // 19-5). The
championship will be held Saturday at 4 p.m.
There is no admission charge.
“The only advantage we have as the home
team is that our players will be able to sleep in their own beds and that our
fans will not have to travel,” said Burt, whose Dutchwomen posted a 13-1
conference record and an overall standard of 21-3. “As for an advantage on the court,
there really isn't one. All of these teams are capable of winning the
tournament,” she continued. “St. Lawrence comes into the weekend as the two-year
defending champions and they have won three of the four titles. Rensselaer
won the 2001 crown by beating St. Lawrence, and William
Smith was in the tournament championship game in 2000 and again in 2002.”