Frongillo is the reigning NEWMAC Player of the Year and enters the postseason as the program's all-time leading scorer. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard/RJBSports.com) |
BOSTON, Mass. (February 24, 2026) – Eighth-seeded Emerson College will make an appearance in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament for the second-straight year when it visits top-seeded and NEWMAC regular season champions Smith College, ranked No. 5 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division III poll, for a quarterfinal round matchup at Ainsworth Gymnasium in Northampton, Massachusetts, Wednesday at 7 p.m.
General admission mobile tickets for all NEWMAC Tournament contests are $11.00 and can only be purchased through the NEWMAC online box office at events.hometownticketing.com/boxoffice/newmacsports. Children under 12 and NEWMAC students with a valid institutional ID are free and do not need to purchase a mobile ticket. The NEWMAC encourages fans to purchase their mobile tickets in advance of the event to streamline the entry process on game day. While spectators may purchase their mobile tickets on site, no cash option will be available.
The game will also be broadcast live on FloSports and can be accessed via links at emersonlions.com or through the FloSports app on Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku.
Emerson (14-11, 5-6 NEWMAC) returns to the NEWMAC Tournament for the second-straight year and seventh time overall since joining the Conference in 2013 and aims to reach the semifinal round for the first time. The Lions have lost ten straight conference tournament contests dating back to a 67-62 win over Norwich University in the semifinal round of the 2009 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament before falling to Emmanuel College in the title game.
Emerson enters Wednesday's quarterfinal having won two of its last three regular season contests following a five-game skein after rallying for a 67-61 win over Springfield College on Boylston Street on Saturday. The Lions rank fifth in the NEWMAC in scoring offense with 64.7 points per game, while ranking eighth in scoring defense at 62.7 points per game. They rank third in field goal percentage offense (.400) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (.359), ranking second in the NEWMAC to Smith in three-point percentage (.342) and third in blocked shots per game (4.16). The Lions are ranked 13th nationally in three-point percentage and 21st with their NEWMAC-high 8.0 three-point field goals per contest, pulling down a NEWMAC-high 31.2 defensive rebounds per game to rank 14th nationally.
Silk has posted a team-high eight double-doubles, ranking among NEWMAC leaders in scoring and rebounding. (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard/RJBSports.com) |
Emerson is led by its all-time leading scorer in program history in senior preseason All-American Bri Frongillo, the reigning NEWMAC Athlete of the Year and two-time All-NEWMAC pick, with 19.1 points per game to rank third in the Conference on 42-percent shooting (4th), including 38.9% from three-point distance (5th), while shooting a NEWMAC-best 90.3% from the free-throw line – good for fourth nationally in Division III. She is also second in the Conference with her 3.9 assists, ranking sixth in the NEWMAC for assist/turnover ratio, while also contributing 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in a NEWMAC-high 38.2 minutes per game (12th nationally).
Sophomore guard Jessie Silk has posted a team-high eight double-doubles and contributes 14.5 points (6th NEWMAC) and team-high 9.4 rebounds (4th) with 2.7 assists (12th) and 1.1 steals per game. She is shooting a team-high 42.7-percent from three-point range (4th) as part of 38.8% shooting overall while converting 73.1% of her free-throws.
Junior Claire English contributes 8.5 points on 60.3-percent shooting, with 8.0 rebounds (6th NEWMAC), 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per game (3rd). Classmate Kaylin O'Meara is also a strong defensive presence for the Lions with English, chipping in 6.5 points, 5.1 boards, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks (8th) per contest. Emerson has also gotten solid contributions from sophomore Lindsay Gould in her first season with 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Smith (24-1, 11-0 NEWMAC) enters the NEWMAC Tournament as its five-time defending champions, having won the NEWMAC Tournament every year since 2019. The Bears have won their last 13 NEWMAC Tournament contests dating back to a 48-46 setback to Springfield in the 2019 semifinals. Smith, national runners up in the NCAA III Tournament the last two years, lead the NEWMAC in nearly every team statistical category, boasting the top offense (74.4 ppg) and defense (49.2 ppg) and outscoring the opposition by 25.2 points per game. The Bears also lead the NEWMAC in field goal percentage (.469), field goal percentage defense (.320), three-point percentage (.403 – 1st nationally), three-point defense (.246), free-throw percentage (.754) and rebound margin (+10.8/gm).
Smith leads in most team offensive categories despite just one player ranking in the top 15 in the NEWMAC in scoring as the Bears feature a balanced effort with four averaging between 12.2 and 9.4 points per game. Junior Virginia Johnson leads the Bears with 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds, while adding 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals (10th NEWMAC) per game, shooting 48.3-percent from the floor, including 44.4% from three-point range (3rd), and converting 72% of her free-throws.
English ranks among NEWMAC leaders for rebounding and blocked shots (PHOTO BY Bob Blanchard/RJBSports.com) |
Junior Felicia Fongemie is the only other Bear scoring in double figures with 10.0 points on 48.4% shooting, connecting at 84.4% from the free-throw line (4th), while classmate Hannah Martin contributes 9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists (8th) and 1.3 steals. Junior Uta Nakamura chips in 9.4 points on 48.3% shooting, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals (9th) per contest.
Wednesday night will mark the 18th meeting all-time between the two programs – the second in postseason play. Smith holds a 12-5 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 2014, having won the last six meetings including a 73-41 victory in Boston in the regular season encounter between the two on February 26. Smith posted a 77-65 win over Emerson in the quarterfinals of the 2020 NEWMAC Tournament and is 7-0 all-time against the Lions at home.
Smith held Emerson to just eight field goals over the final three quarters and used a balanced offensive effort in securing the regular season victory earlier this month in Boston. Johnson led Smith's four double-figure scorers with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, finishing 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, including 5-for-9 from three-point range. Gould scored ten of her team-best 13 points for Emerson in the first quarter to help the Lions grab an early 11-point lead (17-6) after a hook shot with 3:53 remaining in the opening frame.
The winner of tomorrow night's quarterfinal round matchup will advance to Friday's NEWMAC semifinals to be hosted by the highest remaining seed and will face the winner of Wednesday's quarterfinal between No. 5 Springfield College (15-10, 6-5 NEWMAC) and No. 4 MIT (14-11, 8-3 NEWMAC). The NEWMAC Championship is scheduled for Sunday at the highest seed (Time TBA).
2026 NEWMACWomen's Basketball Tournament
Wednesday, February 25
Quarterfinals (hosted by higher seeds)
all games on Flo College Sports
#8 Emerson (14-11, 5-6 NEWMAC) at #1 Smith (24-1, 11-0 NEWMAC), 7 p.m.
#7 Coast Guard (13-12, 5-6 NEWMAC) at #2 Babson (17-8, 9-2 NEWMAC), 7 p.m.
#6 WPI (15-10, 6-5 NEWMAC) at #3 Clark (17-8, 8-3 NEWMAC), 7 p.m.
#5 Springfield (15-10, 6-5 NEWMAC) at #4 MIT (14-11, 8-3 NEWMAC), 7 p.m.
Friday, February 27
Semifinals (hosted by highest remaining seed)
games broadcast on Flo College Sports
Springfield/MIT winner vs. Emerson/Smith winner, TBA
WPI/Clark winner vs. Coast Guard/Babson winner, TBA
Sunday, March 1
Championship (at highest remaining seed)
broadcast on Flo College Sports
Semifinal winners, TBA
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