NORTHEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 MOUNT ST. MARY'S (16-6, 14-4 NEC) vs. #2 WAGNER (13-5, 12-4 NEC)
March 14^th | 2 p.m.
Emmitsburg, Md. | Knott Arena
 
| ESPNU | Live Stats | Mount Game Notes | Wagner Notes |
 
EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 13, 2021) – Mount St. Mary's women's basketball has reached the climax of a turbulent yet successful 2020-21 campaign. This Sunday, the Mountaineers welcome the Wagner Seahawks with both teams seeking to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time in decades.  
 
A Mountaineers win would mark the first NCAA trip for the program since 1995. Wagner made their last trip to the Big Dance in 1989.
 
MOUNTAINEER REPORT
The Mount survived an early scare and overcame a halftime deficit for the first time this season, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson in the conference semifinals last Wednesday, 77-62. Rebecca Lee recorded her fourth double-double of the season, leading the team with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The team also converted on all 13 foul shot attempts. Three more Mountaineers also posted double figures as the team shot north of 40 percent in the second half to outflank the Knights 41-24 in the second half.

This is the program's first championship game since 2001, when they lost to LIU Brooklyn. Overall it is the eighth time the Mount has played for a conference title, and the seventh time they have hosted the game.

A victory marks the fourth NEC Championship for Mount St. Mary's. Led by Bill Sheahan, the Mount won three in a row from 1993 to 1995. The first team did not receive an automatic qualification to the NCAA Tournament, but the Mount challenged Iowa and Alabama in the second and third years.

SURVEYING THE SEAHAWKS
Wagner made a successful push to the title game backed by a five game win streak. Two of those wins came against the Mount in the regular season finale before the Seahawks defeated Saint Francis U to punch their tickets to Emmitsburg.

Post play was critical to the Seahawks' sweep of the Mount, led by the duo of Emilija Krista Grava and Kem Nwabudu. The duo split 36 points with 18 each in the opener that clinched a conference tournament berth for Wagner. In the double overtime thriller finale, Krista Grava – a First Team All-NEC selection – went off, scoring 32 points off 15 made shots in the field. The Seahawks win gave them a home game for the semifinal.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Mount St. Mary's has had several lengthy winning streaks against the Seahawks to bolster the all-time series in their favor to 47-19. Wagner leveled the score in recent years, winning four of eight meetings since the 2017-18 season.

The two teams have never faced off against one another in the NEC Championship game.

LOOKING AHEAD
Should the Mount claim victory, they will find out who they will play in San Antonio during the NCAA Women's Selection Show on Monday evening. Coverage begins on ESPN at 7 p.m. and moves to ESPNU at 8 p.m.