Cortland to Play Endicott in NCAA Women's Basketball First Round Friday at Bowdoin
Cortland Sports Information Department
The SUNY Cortland women's basketball team has earned a spot in the 64-team NCAA Division III tournament and will open play against Endicott College of Massachusetts on Friday, March 7, as part of a four-team regional hosted by Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
Friday's other first-round game at Bowdoin features the host Polar Bears versus Brooklyn College. The Cortland-Endicott game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start, with Bowdoin-Brooklyn at 7:30 p.m. Friday's winners will play Saturday at Bowdoin at 7:30 p.m., with that winner advancing to the tournament's "sweet 16."
The Red Dragons (24-3), led by second-year head coach Colleen Ames, will be making their fourth NCAA tournament appearance in the last five years and 14th overall. Cortland defeated Saint Vincent (Pa.) in the first round before losing to host Trinity (Conn.) in the second round of its last playoff showing in 2023.
Cortland earned an NCAA automatic bid after claiming its ninth State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) tournament title, and second in three years, with a 68-49 win over New Paltz Saturday at Cortland in the league title game. Cortland was the tournament's top seed and New Paltz was the second seed, and the teams had split their two regular-season meetings. Cortland has won 13 straight games since its loss at New Paltz on Jan. 17.
Three Red Dragons average double figures in scoring. Sophomore Kayla Campbell (Franklin/Franklin Central) averages 12.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore Jackie Funk (Penfield) averages 11 points pergame and is shooting 44 percent (43-of-98) from 3-point range. Sophomore Joleen Lusk (Cherry Valley/Cherry Valley-Springfield) averages 10 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per contest. Lusk also leads the team with 1.2 blocks per game, Campbell is the team leader with 1.7 steals per outing and Kaeli McAnally (Islip) averages a team-high 3.3 assists per game.
Ames is making her first NCAA appearance at Cortland and her second overall as a head coach. She led Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) to the NCAA second round in 2022 after defeating Johns Hopkins in the opening round.
Endicott (22-5) earned an NCAA automatic berth after defeating nationally ranked Western New England, 64-58, in the title game of the Conference of New England (CNE) tournament. The Gulls won their first conference title since 2020 and will be making their second NCAA appearance. Endicott upset 12th-ranked Scranton, 65-56, in the opening round of the 2020 tourney before losing by three to 20th-ranked Christopher Newport in the second round.
Bowdoin (27-0) is ranked second nationally by D3hoops.com and is just one of two undefeated teams remaining in Division III this season, along with defending national champion NYU. The Polar Bears rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Colby, 62-59, to repeat as New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) tournament champions. Bowdoin is making its 22nd NCAA playoff appearance - the Polar Bears were national runner-up in 2004, 2018 and 2019 in addition to six other national quarterfinal finishes, including last season.
Brooklyn (17-11) won its fifth straight City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) title, knocking off second seed Baruch in the semifinals and top-seeded Hunter, 59-54, in the championship game. The Bulldogs are making their sixth NCAA appearance overall. They advanced to the second round in 2022 after defeating Emmanuel College in the opening round.
