SPORTS NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Corey McCarthy
Saint Joseph’s College Athletics
207/893-6618

2/25/08 – St. Joe’s Hoops Programs Earn GNAC Playoffs Berths

STANDISH, ME – For the first time since 2002, both Saint Joseph's College basketball programs have a conference championship to play for. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship brackets were announced on Saturday evening after the conclusion of the regular season docket, and both SJC hoops teams are in the running for a GNAC Championship and a berth to the NCAA Division III National Championships. The winners of the league championships earn automatic bids to the NCAA Regionals.

After an upset 69-68 victory over GNAC opponent Emmanuel College on Saturday, the St. Joe’s men’s basketball team finished the season with an 11-7 GNAC record, 13-12 overall, and earned the #5 seed in the playoffs. The Monks will travel to Providence, RI to play #4 seed Johnson and Wales University (15-10, 12-6 GNAC) on Tuesday, February 26th for a 7:30 PM tip-off. St. Joe’s was defeated by the JWU Wildcats, 98-92, in overtime in Standish on January 9th in the only meeting between the teams this season. The winner of Tuesday evening’s contest will take on the winner of the #1 Emerson College-#8 Daniel Webster College game on Thursday, February 28th. The highest seeded team hosts all games throughout the men’s tournament.

The St. Joe’s women’s basketball team finished the regular season with an 8-4 conference record, 15-9 overall and received the #6 seed in the GNAC playoffs. Saint Joseph’s will travel to Northfield, VT to face off against #3 seed Norwich University (10-13, 10-3 GNAC) on Tuesday February 26th at 7:00 PM. Norwich defeated SJC in Standish, 62-57, on February 16th. The winner of Tuesday evening’s contest will play the winner of the #2 Suffolk University-#7 Rivier College. For the women, the games in the first round of the playoffs are hosted by the higher seed and the semifinal and championship games are hosted by the highest seed of the final four teams left standing. The Final Four match-ups begin with the semifinals on Friday, February 29th and conclude with the GNAC championship on Saturday February 30th.

Prior to entry in to the GNAC, the SJC hoops teams faced uphill battles as Independent Institutions in their attempts to gain at-large bids into the “Big Dance.” For both programs, as well as five other sports teams at St. Joe’s, being in the GNAC means that there is a much greater opportunity to gain a berth into the NCAA tournament.

This is a very exciting time for both basketball programs as Saint Joseph's College as each team controls their own destiny. The formula is simple: if you keep winning you will keep playing, with the ultimate goal of taking a shot at a national championship. One loss equals the end of your season. Win or lose the 2007-08 Saint Joseph's College basketball programs have enjoyed success in their first seasons in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and proven they belong in this competitive league.

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GNAC Basketball Playoffs Brackets