Ashland Regional Tournament Central
HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College women's basketball teams embarks on its second NCAA tournament journey in program history as the Fords travel to the Ashland, Va. campus of Randolph-Macon to face off with No. 18 Christopher Newport in first-round action on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. Fans can follow the Ashland Regional all weekend long at Randolph-Macon's tournament central page.
Haverford (21-6) has reached the 20-win plateau for the second time in program history, with the 2017-18 squad joining the 2013-14 team that finished 24-4 en-route to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Fords come into the contest following a close loss in the Centennial Conference Championship game to Gettysburg. Haverford earned an at-large berth on Monday afternoon.
Haverford will be led by its stellar senior class of Sierra Berkel and Samantha Wetzel. Berkel was named to First-team All-Centennial honors on Tuesday. Berkel is the first two-time selection to the first team in program history. Berkel has appeared in 23 games, starting 19 contests. She is sixth in the conference in points per game (14.8) and seventh in rebounds per game (7.9). Her field goal percentage of 49.2 percent is second in the Centennial Conference.
The Flushing, N.Y. product is the program's all-time career record holder in field goal percentage (.506) and is second in field goals made (460) and rebounds (814). She is third in overall points (1,171).
As one of the stingiest defenses in the nation, Haverford is holding opponents to just 47 points a contest, the third-lowest mark in Division III. A big part of that defense has been the shot-blocking prowess of second-team All-Centennial selection Wetzel, who enters the contest seventh in the nation in blocked shots with 84. Wetzel rose to the top of the Centennial Conference all-time leaderboard in blocked shots this season, with 272 for her career. Wetzel topped Heidi Snyder of McDaniel with a four-block performance in the Centennial Conference Championship game.
Wetzel is fourth in the conference in rebounds per game (9.3) and 14th in points per game (12.8).The Sicklerville, N.J. product is Haverford's career leader in blocks (272), blocked shot average (2.6), defensive rebounds (615) and games played (106). She is eighth overall in points (1,007).
Guard play from All-Centennial honoree Macy Goldbach, Katie Cook and Maddie Gallic will be a large part of Haverford's plan for success. Goldbach has made 31 three-pointers this season while Cook averaged 4.2 assists per contest, good for third in the Centennial Conference. Gallic has averaged 4.8 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game this season.
First year player Julianna Clark has had a debut campaign to remember, earning the Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year Award. Clark appeared in all 27 contests and is averaging 5.2 points per game, emerging as a vital option off the bench. Clark has hit 36 three-pointers and shot 34 percent from beyond the arc. Clark had perhaps her best stretch of the season from January 31 to February 8, posting double-digit point totals in four-straight contests.
In reserve roles, Megan Furch (5.0 ppg) and Anna-Sophia Capizzi (4.4 ppg) have appeared in each of the 25 contests this season while Raina Gully (1.5 ppg) has seen action in all but two contests.
Christopher Newport enters the contest as the ODAC runner-up after dropping a thrilling championship game to Marymount (Va). The Captains have posted a 23-4 overall record this season, including a 16-2 mark in conference play.
The Captains will be making their 19th tournament appearance and the fifth in the last five years. Christopher Newport advanced to the Final Four a season ago. The matchup will be the first ever between the Fords and CNU.
Seniors Sam Porter and Makenzie Fancher are standouts for the Captains. Porter was named a first-team All-CAC selection for the third time after leading the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game and in steals with 3.2 points per game. Fancher was also named All-CAC after a sharpshooting campaign from beyond the arc, sinking 46 three-pointers.
As a team, Christopher Newport is known for a stifling full-court defense, ranking third in the nation in turnovers forced and turnover margin, and third in steals per game. The contest offers an intriguing contrast as Haverford has allowed the sixth-fewest turnovers per contest.
Randolph-Macon enters the NCAA tournament with a 22-5 record and are fresh off the heels of a win in the ODAC Championship game over Emory & Henry. The key for the Yellow Jackets will be standout sophomore Kelly Williams. Williams, the ODAC Player of the Year, became the first Division III player to be named USBWA Player of the Week on four separate occasions. Williams is leading the nation in scoring (25.5 ppg) and rebounding (18.3 ppg). Haverford has never faced Randolph-Macon.
Valley Forge is making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament after earning a "Pool B" selection to the tournament with a 15-8 overall record. The Patriots, from nearby Phoenixville, Pa., are led by Jhanel Brown and Bailey Mayforth. Brown has averaged 18 points and 13 rebounds this season, while Mayforth has been crucial from the perimeter, sinking 61 threes. Natalie Cortes, a transfer from Division II Nyack, is another factor for UVF, averaging double figures in scoring in her first season at Valley Forge. The Fords have also never matched up with the Patriots.
The semifinal winners will meet in the regional final on Saturday at 7 p.m. Randolph-Macon is one of 16 schools hosting a regional this weekend. The regional winners will meet in sectionals on March 9 and March 10.