Women’s basketball: Smith College draws Maine Maritime in first round, will host NCAA Division 3 pod

NORTHAMPTON — After winning its fourth consecutive NEWMAC tournament championship on Sunday, the Smith College women’s basketball team woke up Monday for the annual selection show to see where and when it would be playing in the first round of the NCAA Division 3 tournament.

Smith defeated Babson 90-59 in the conference title tilt behind a torrid second-half stretch. During the Pioneers’ three conference tournament games, they outscored their opponents by an average of 35 points per game. They’re peaking at the right time.

To no surprise, boasting a 25-3 record and near-perfect 10-1 conference mark, the Pioneers are once again hosting a regional for the opening weekend. Maine Maritime, Messiah and Shenandoah are the other three team in Smith’s pod, and the first two rounds will be held at Ainsworth Gymnasium.

The Pioneers are matched up with Maine Maritime in the opening round at 7 p.m. Friday, while Messiah and Shenandoah battle in the other game at 4:30 p.m. before the two winners square off with a Sweet 16 berth on the line on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Smith reached the Final Four last year for the first time in program history.

Amherst College (19-6) did not receive an at-large bid to the tournament, and will miss playing in March for the second year in a row. The Mammoths lost to Middlebury in the quarterfinals of the NESCAC Tournament earlier this month.