NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--The last time the Smith College basketball team played in this game, most of the team had not reached the age of 10, yet the Pioneers will look to play beyond their years as they head for their most important game of the season: A meeting with top seeded Babson College in the championship game of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference tournament on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

After Smith (17-9) won their eighth straight game with a 57-50 win over WPI in the semifinals, a sterner test awaits with the Beavers, who are current ranked No. 4 in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division III poll.  At stake is the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Babson is led by the three headed monster of Nicki Wurdeman, Sarah Collins, and Kathleen King.  Wurdeman, a junior, averages 19 points, 8.5 rebounds, while classmate King is scoring 14.9 points per game and pulling down 9.5 rebounds.  Collins completes the trio with averages of 15.4 points and 9.3 boards. 

Babson swept both their matchups with Smith this season, but the final scores can be misleading in both affairs.  Back on December 4, Smith stayed withing touching distance of the Beavers, cutting the deficit to eight points with 9:26 to play before Babson pulled away for a 62-49 win.  In the rematch, Smith roared out to a 10 point lead early in the first half, and the game was tied at 46 with 13:40 to play before Babson put the game out of reach with a 21-4 run to cap a 78-55 victory.  Lizzy BelBruno (Hanover, N.H./Hanover) netted a career high 24 points in the contest.

The game will be Smith's first appearance in the tournament final since 1998; Smith also made one other showing, in 1989, and will be looking for their first trip to the NCAA tournament.  Babson will be looking for their third consecutive trip to the dance, having bowed out in the round of eight in 2010. 


For those looking to make the trip to the game, directions to Babson College can be found here. 

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults: $4
Seniors: $2
Students: $1
12 & Under: Free

For those unable to make it to this weekend's games, a live broadcast as well as live statistics will be available.  To access the live broadcast, click here.  To access the live statistics, please click this link.