Top-Seeded Women’s Basketball Hosts #4 Seed Becker in NECC Semifinals Thursday

QUINCY, Mass.- After claiming the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular-season title outright, the Eastern Nazarene College women's basketball team will face off against fourth-seeded Becker in the NECC Tournament semifinals Thursday evening.

BASICS:
Date: 2/27/20
Location: Lahue Physical Education Center | Quincy, Mass.
Time: 7:00 PM
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HOW THEY GOT HERE:
Eastern Nazarene finished the regular season with a 20-3 overall record to go with a 13-1 mark in the New England Collegiate Conference to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NECC Tournament. Becker claimed the No. 4 seed with a 9-5 league record and owns a 12-14 overall record after defeating fifth-seeded Dean 82-74 in the NECC Tournament first round Tuesday.

POSTSEASON HISTORY:
Eastern Nazarene is making its sixth-straight playoff appearance, having qualified for the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament four-consecutive seasons before reaching NECC Tournament semifinals last year. The Lions boast an all-time postseason record of 10-16.

ENC VS. BECKER ALL-TIME SERIES:
The two teams split the two regular-season meetings this year. Eastern Nazarene prevailed 63-55 at home January 11 before the Hawks handed the Lions their only conference loss of the season, a 70-58 decision February 1. The two teams have met nine times on the hardwood and Eastern Nazarene trails 4-5 in the all-time series.

MAGIC NUMBER 20:
Eastern Nazarene's 20 wins on the year are the most since the legendary 1999-2000 campaign, 20 years ago.

DEFEND THE DEN:
Eastern Nazarene compiled an 11-1 record at home during the regular season, including a 7-0 mark in conference play at the Lahue Physical Education Center. The Lions own a 44-16 combined record at home in the last five seasons.

SHOOTERS SHOOT:
Sophomore Stevie Orton (Gilford, N.H.) ranks second in the conference with a field-goal percentage of 51.4% on the year. Senior Kyra Fleharty (Lewistown, Mont.) paces the league in three-point shooting accuracy with a 38.8% clip from behind the arc. Junior Morgan Vurek (Daly City, Calif.) ranks fifth in the NECC with a 34% shooting percentage from the perimeter this season.

ALL-CONFERENCE ACCOLADES:
Sophomore Stevie Orton (Gilford, N.H.) was named the NECC Player of the Year, joining Melissa Christmas ('00) as the only players in program history to earn the award. Senior Jenn Burnham (West Valley City, Utah) claimed Eastern Nazarene's second-straight NECC Defensive Player of the Year nod after Shannon Chau (San Francisco, Calif.) became the first player in program history to receive the accolade last year. Head coach Sacha Santimano was voted the NECC Coach of the Year for the second time in her career. Senior Kyra Fleharty (Lewistown, Mont.) and Orton were both tabbed to the All-NECC first team while Burnham collected All-NECC second team honors. Junior Seniesha Sekaquaptewa (Second Mesa, Ariz.) earned a spot on the NECC Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.

"DONAT3" INITIATIVE:
This season, the Eastern Nazarene women's basketball program launched its "DONAT3" initiative to help raise funds, awareness, and collect goods for three organizations that empower and educate women and children. The three organizations are DoVE, OneVOICE, and The Dianne Devanna Center. The Lions have pledged money to these organizations based on the number of three-pointers they make in games. Eastern Nazarene has splashed 146 treys so far this season and has pledged over $1,900.