SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The University of New England has earned the top seed for the 2012 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) women’s basketball championship, which begins with quarterfinal matchups on campus sites Tuesday. 

The Nor’easters (21-4 overall) captured the top seed in the conference tournament after compiling a 16-2 record in CCC play and posting UNE’s fourth consecutive 20-win season.

On Tuesday, UNE will host #8 Nichols (6-19, 5-13) at 7:00 p.m., while #2 seed Salve Regina (16-9, 13-5) will host #7 seed Curry (9-16, 7-11) at 6:00 p.m., #3 seed Western New England (13-12, 12-6) will host #6 seed Eastern Nazarene (13-12, 10-8) at  7:00 p.m., and #4 seed Endicott (15-10, 12-6)  will host #5 seed Roger Williams (14-11, 11-7) at 6:00 p.m.

CCC tiebreaking procedures were utilized to determine the third seed in the tournament.  Both Western New England and Endicott finished tied for third place with identical 12-6 CCC records.  In the first step, the Golden Bears and Gulls split their two regular-season matchups, yielding no relief.  In the second step, the performance of both teams was compared to other CCC teams from the top of the standings down until a difference emerged.  Both Western New England and Endicott posted identical 0-2 records against first seed UNE, but the Golden Bears compiled a 2-0 record against second seed Salve Regina, while Endicott was 1-1, giving WNE the third seed.

Quarterfinal winners will advance to the semifinal round which will be played on Thursday, February 23 at the sites of the higher seed.  Semifinal games are scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m., but may be altered in the event that one institution hosts both a men’s and a women’s contest.

Semifinal winners will square off for the conference championship on Saturday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the site of the higher seed.

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