Men’s and Women’s Basketball To Compete In NEAC Postseason Play

GANSEVOORT, N.Y. – For the first time in school history, both the Wells College men's and women's basketball teams will compete within the North Eastern Athletic Conference postseason in the same year. In total, all four winter sports at Wells (men's and women's swimming, men's and women's basketball) have qualified for postseason play.

To qualify for the NEAC Final Four, the women's basketball team will have to partake in a play-in game against the Wildcats of SUNYIT in Marcy, N.Y. at the Campus Center Gym this Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 7:00 p.m. The men's basketball team will face-off against the Nittany Lions of Penn St.-Berks this Saturday, Feb. 23 on the campus of Morrisville State College in Morrisville, N.Y. in a 4:00 p.m. tilt.

The women's basketball team at Wells clinched a playoff berth for the first time in program history following a 70-62 victory over the College of Saint Elizabeth on Feb. 2. This year, the Express set program records in overall victories (12), conference victories (11), longest winning streak (4 games, Jan. 19 – Jan. 26), most home victories (6) and most road victories (6).

Before qualifying for the NEAC Final Four tournament, the Express must first win a play-in game against SUNYIT, the second seed in the North Division. By placing third in the division, the conference's operating codes dictate a play-in game against the second seed to make the final four.

The Storm of Keuka College are the North Division's first seed after posting a 16-1 conference record. The Storm do not host the tournament due to their one loss to Lancaster Bible College, the top seeded team in the South Division. In the South, Penn St.-Harrisburg and the College of Saint Elizabeth are the second and third seeds, respectively.

Against SUNYIT this year, the Express are a combined 0-2, most recently falling to the Wildcats by a 92-88 overtime decision. In cumulative program history, the Express are 0-6 against the Wildcats.

The men's basketball team at Wells has made the NEAC postseason in all five years of its history, advancing to the championship game in all but one year. A victory over Keuka College on Saturday officially clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Express, who defeated Keuka twice during the regular season, eliminated third place Keuka who did not advance due to their loss to Penn St.-Harrisburg. In the men's tournament, only five total teams advance.

Wells will face-off against the Nittany Lions of Penn St.-Berks on Saturday, Feb. 23 at host Morrisville St. in a 4:00 p.m. contest. The Express are 6-2 all-time against the Nittany Lions, who edged the Express on Jan. 4 by a 77-64 margin. Wells, who was without several members of their starting lineup due to injury, looks to avenge their loss in early January. Penn St.-Berks and Wells have never faced-off in postseason play.

The Express men last claimed a conference championship in 2011.

Morrisville St. will be charging admission to the games - $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for students with proper identification, military personnel, senior citizens and children 13 years of age and older. Children under 12 years of age will be admitted free of charge. Programs will be for sale at a cost of $1.00.

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