Each week, the staff at NESCAC Insider, the Tufts Daily's NESCAC blog, will compile a roundup of the top news throughout Div. III's top conference. For more up-to-the-minute analysis and comprehensive coverage of the NESCAC, visit blogs.tuftsdaily.com/nescacinsider or follow @NESCACInsider on Twitter.
Women's Basketball | Lords of the Land
Undefeated, defending national champion Amherst survived a scare last weekend, needing a layup with 18 seconds left from senior Caroline Stedman to outlast Colby, 51-50, and give coach G.P. Gromacki his 300th career victory.
The Lord Jeffs had a much easier time dispatching a reeling Williams unit on Wednesday, bumping their winning streak to 37 games dating back to Jan. 11 of last season with an 80-58 rout over the Ephs.
Stedman, who was named to the D3hoops.com team of the week, is averaging a team-high 13.9 points per game for a top-ranked Amherst squad that leads the NESCAC in points for, points against, rebounds, steals and blocked shots. Four players rank in the top 25 in the conference in scoring, including freshman forward Megan Robertson, who averages 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game off the bench.
Sitting comfortably in first place, Amherst has just one remaining NESCAC game against a team with a winning in-conference record. That game is at Tufts on Feb. 4 and could very well decide the regular season title and top spot in the conference tournament.
For more on the Lord Jeffs' start and on Middlebury men's basketball, one of two undefeated men's teams in all of college hoops, visit the NESCAC Insider blog online.
Ice Hockey | Colby struggling in close games
In the battle for the eighth and final seed in the NESCAC men's ice hockey tournament, Colby firmly controls its own destiny. The Mules are trailing Conn. College by three points and Hamilton by four, and they play both squads this week.
As columnist Tim Costello pointed out in his weekly NESCAC wrap on USCHO.com, eight of Colby's 13 losses this season have been by one goal. The Mules' paltry 2-for-54 performance on the power play isn't helping matters.
On the women's side, Amherst scored a huge upset at home over top-ranked and defending national champs Norwich, who entered riding a 14-game unbeaten streak. Lord Jeffs goalie Sinead Murphy had 30 saves for her seventh-ranked squad, which became the first team to shut out Norwich since Dec. 6, 2009.
Quick hits
The following athletes were named NESCAC Players of the Week: Bates sophomore G Luke Matarazzo (men's basketball), Amherst senior G Caroline Stedman (women's basketball), Bowdoin sophomore GK Steve Messina (men's ice hockey), Williams freshman GK Chloe Billadeau (women's ice hockey), Bates senior Tom Boniface (men's swimming and diving) and Conn. College sophomore Julia Peilock (women's swimming and diving).
In D3baseball.com's preseason national top 25, Tufts was the only ranked NESCAC team, coming in at No. 24. Amherst received five votes.
Trinity Associate Head Football Coach Lewis Acquarulo was named the New England Div. II/III Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. Acquarulo is the Bantams' defensive coordinator, managing inside linebackers and the kicking game.
