BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — While Western New York’s Big 4 basketball teams had their Big Dance dreams dashed during conference championship week, both of Daemen University’s teams moved on in the NCAA Division II tournament.
The women’s basketball team advanced to the East Regional final with two victories against higher-seeded opponents in Waltham, Massachusetts. Beating No. 3-seed St. Rose, 52-47, on Friday, and No. 2 Assumption, 68-58, on Saturday, the Wildcats (22-8) have now won six games in the past four NCAA tournaments under coach Jenepher Banker. Daemen will meet No. 1 Bentley (27-6), the regional host, at 7 p.m. Monday for a berth in the NCAA quarterfinals.
Daemen’s men’s basketball team won 74-66 in its opening-round matchup against Jefferson in Colchester, Vermont. The No. 4-seed Wildcats (25-8) will play host Saint Michaels (23-8) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the regional semifinals.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.