New for the 2011-2012 seasons, the America East Daily Word, a collaboration between AmericaEast.com and AExtra, will recap the previous day's games and on goings on our nine campuses and provide links to previews, recaps, features and exclusive coverage.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams representing the conference in the NCAA tournament will be decided on Saturday. Albany and UMBC tangle at 8 p.m. on the women’s side and it’s No. 1 vs. No. 2, Stony Brook and Vermont, for the men.

Cue the hype from local media outlets.

Newsday on Long Island ran a collection of stories today about Stony Brook including a video piece about the Seawolves’ preparation for Vermont on Saturday. Bryan Dougher, Dallis Joyner, Tommy Brenton and head coach Steve Pikiell all make appearances in the video journal. In addition, Steven Marcus wrote a piece on Joyner reflecting on last year’s championship game against Boston U.

Up in Burlington, the Free Press continues its buildup of the title tilt on Saturday by taking a look at where this contest will be played. No, not the friendly confines of Pritchard Gym where Stony Brook is 13-0 this year, but the Stony Brook Arena. With a seating capacity in the range of 4,500 things are sure to be wild and crazy on Long Island Saturday morning.

Want to know more about the Albany women’s hoops team? Look no further than the Times Union today. The Albany paper give us 10 things we may not know about the Great Danes, including the fact that the league’s leading rebounder, Julie Forster, makes great chocolate chip cookies.

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