Anchorwomen Make History with Final Four Run
The RIC Women's Basketball team continued its dream season on Saturday with a 60-47 win over Babson College on the road, advancing to the NCAA Div. III Final Four for the first time in school history. They now move on to face Christopher Newport University in the NCAA Div. III National Semifinal at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. on Saturday, March 18. (Stream the game at the NCAA website starting at 5 p.m. on Saturday.)
It has been a dominant season for the Anchorwomen, who went 26-3 overall (15-1 in Little East Conference play) to tie with Eastern Connecticut State University for the best record in the conference. The two schools earned the top two seeds in the Little East Tournament (ECSU at 1 and RIC at 2) and eventually faced each other in the conference championship game, with RIC emerging victorious. It was their third consecutive Little East championship.
That punched the Anchorwomen's ticket to the NCAA Div. III Tournament, the program's sixth such appearance. Their road to the Final Four included victories over third-seeded Rowan University and previously undefeated University of Scranton (ranked third in the country) in the first two rounds of the tournament to advance to the Sweet 16. That accomplishment alone would have marked the deepest tournament run in RIC Women's Basketball history – but they kept going.
Last Friday night the Anchorwomen downed the University of Chicago, ranked tenth in the country, to earn their spot in the Elite 8 against Babson. With their second win in two nights on Saturday, RIC is now one of the last four teams in the country left standing. Another win this coming Saturday would put them in the championship game.
"I'm not going to lie, I'm still a little speechless about the whole thing," senior forward Izabelle Booth, who was named First-Team All Little East this season, said in a post-game interview. "It's really nice to prove people wrong, to show up and do what we do."
"We really showed what we're all about and what our team can do when we play together," added sophomore guard Madison Medbury.
"We're peaking at the absolute right time," said head coach Jenna Cosgrove, who entered her sixth season at the helm with a 83-37 (.692) career record. "It was a long season, we've gone through some highs, gone through some lows – but we figured it out when it matters."
What to know about RIC Women's Basketball in the Final Four:
The Anchorwomen face Christopher Newport University of Newport News, Va. on Saturday, March 18, 5 p.m., at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.
Tickets are on sale now at the Murray Center. The college has only been allocated 250 tickets so it is imperative that people order their tickets quickly. Tickets can also be purchased via credit card by calling The Murray Center at (401) 456-8007.
Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children, senior citizens, current students and Anchor Club members.
Athletics will have a limited number of seats available to transport students and others to the game in Hartford. Transportation for students will be free with a ticket purchase and $5 for all others. Complimentary light refreshments will be provided on the outbound trip.
A pep rally will be held on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in Donovan Dining Center for the Rhode Island College community to support the team as they prepare for their Final Four matchup. It should be about 30 minutes in duration. Come out and meet the team and be eligible for a once in a lifetime piece of swag commemorating this historic event.
More information will be provided as it becomes available. Please contact the Department of Athletics at (401) 456-6345 with any questions or for more information.