For nearly one whole year fans have been left wondering what could have been in the 2020 Hercules Tires America East Women's Basketball Championship Game. Now, they get a chance to find out. For the second consecutive year Maine and Stony Brook have advanced to the title game as the league’s top-two seeds. No. 1 Maine defeated No. 4 UAlbany on Sunday followed by No. 2 Stony Brook defeating No. 3 UMass Lowell.
The top-seeded Black Bears hit 11 threes and put four players in double figures to secure a sixth consecutive appearance in the championship game. The Seawolves led wire-to-wire and got 30 points from their bench to advance to the title game for the second year in a row. It is the first time in program history the Seawolves have advanced to the championship game in consecutive years. In three seasons under the high-seed format, the women's title game has featured the top-two seeds each year.
Stony Brook will visit Maine on Friday, March 12 in a battle for the league championship and automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. on ESPNU.
For full playoff coverage, including box scores, highlights, photos and more, visit Hercules Tires #AEPlayoffs Central.
#AEPlayoffs Semifinals Recap
at #1 Maine 67, #4 UAlbany 47
- The Black Bears (17-2) shot 57.9 percent from three-point range to win in the semifinals after receiving a bye.
- Both teams came out with a full-court press to start the game and UAlbany scored the first four points before quickly building a 7-2 lead.
- Kelly Fogarty’s three-pointer with just over 1:30 left in the opening quarter gave Maine the lead for good.
- The Black Bears came out of the locker room with a 22-point third quarter, increasing their lead by 12.
- They finished with 11 steals, including seven in the first half.
- The team's eleven threes rank in the top-five for a single postseason game.
- Player of the Year Blanca Millan finished with a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds to compliment five assists and three steals.
- Millan and fellow All-Conference First Teamers Anne Simon and Dor Saar each hit three triples for Maine to finish in double figures.
- Ellen Hahne led the Great Danes scoring effort with 15 points.
at #2 Stony Brook 75, #3 UMass Lowell 55
- Two of the nation’s top defenses were aggressive as expected, but Stony Brook (14-5) led wire-to-wire to reach the championship game for the second-straight year.
- The Seawolves forced 19 UMass Lowell turnovers, converting into 22 points.
- 12 of those turnovers came in the first half as Stony Brook racked up eight of its 14 steals.
- Stony Brook was up by 14 at halftime as Third-Team All-Conference choice Annie Warren led the way with 11 points.
- The Seawovles’ nine blocks are tied for third-most in postseason game in league history.
- The team assisted on 21 made buckets and got 30 points from its bench.
- Second-Team All-Conference selection Asiah Dingle dished out a game-high seven helpers and was also responsible for a game-high six steals and a team-high 14 points for the home team.
- Stony Brook junior Earlette Scott added 10 points and four steals while Second-Team All-Conference selection India Pagan also scored 10.
- All-Conference Second Teamer Kharis Idom led the River Hawks with a game-high 15 points.
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