Overview
The #5 Caldwell University women's basketball team will play in the 2018 NCAA Division II Championship on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 pm. The Cougars take on #5 Saint Thomas Aquinas College on the campus of Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. The Cougars enter Friday's game with a 24-6 record, while the Spartans are 26-4.   
 
Multimedia
Live stats and video will be available for Friday's game. All links will be available on the Tournament Central page at http://www.stonehillskyhawks.com/sports/wbkb/2017-18/2018WBKBEastRegional
 
Ticket Information
Admission fee is $10 adults, $5 for seniors, children and students with valid ID. An all-session pass can be purchased for $25 for adults and $10 for seniors, children and students.
 
Last Time Out
The teams met on November 29 with the Spartans emerging with an 86-54 win over the Cougars. Senior Karlie O'Driscoll (Sharon, Mass.) led Caldwell with 13 points, while senior Sharell Sanders (Dorchester, Mass.) tallied seven points, seven boards, seven assists and three steals. For the Spartans, Jenna Erickson posted 19 points and seven assists. Adiya Henderson posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds along with four blocks.
 
Scouting the Cougars (24-6, 16-3 CACC)
The Cougars fell in their last game to USciences 61-52 in the CACC Championship Semifinals last Saturday. Senior Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) led the way with 14 points, while O'Driscoll chipped in 11 points and six boards. Sanders tallied 11 points, three rebounds, five assists and two steals. Drogsler leads the Cougars this season with 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game. She is second on the team with 59 three-pointers. Sanders is averaging 11.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals per contest. O'Driscoll is chipping in 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while senior Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) is posting 9.7 points per game and leads the team with 6.8 boards per contest.
 
Scouting the Spartans (26-4, 16-2 ECC)
The Spartans defeated NYIT 53-40 to win their first-ever East Coast Conference Championship this past weekend. Erickson led the way for the Spartans with 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Henderson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds along with three blocks. Emily Preston posted 12 boards in the win. Erickson leads the Spartans with 17.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She has connected on a team-best 88 three-pointers this season. Henderson is averaging 9.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per contest. Preston leads the team with 8.0 rebounds per game.
 
CACC All-Conference Honors
Drogsler was named to the CACC All-Conference First Team, earning her third all-conference honors in her career. Sanders was selected as the CACC Defensive Player of the Year and earned Second Team All-Conference honors for a second straight season.
 
Next Up
The winner of this quarterfinal match up will advance to the East Region semifinals on Saturday at 7:30 pm. They will face the winner of the #1 Stonehill-#8 Southern Connecticut contest.
 
Caldwell Cougars Online
For more information regarding Caldwell Athletics log on to CaldwellAthletics.com or follow Caldwell Athletics on Twitter @CaldwellCougars and Like Caldwell University Athletics on Facebook. For updates on the Caldwell University Women's Basketball team, follow @CaldwellWBB on Twitter.