Last month, when the Assumption women’s basketball team had lost 10 of 13 games, an NCAA Division 2 Tournament berth did not seem likely.
“We weren’t thinking about it at all,” coach Kerry Phayre said. “Things changed quickly for sure.”
A 63-52 triumph over Southern Connecticut State on February 15 started the Greyhounds on a six-game winning streak that they rode all the way into the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament final. Assumption fell to Bentley, but the Greyhounds (19-13) earned an at-large bid and will make their third straight NCAA appearance.
The Assumption men’s team also earned an at-large berth and will make its first NCAA appearance since 2013.
“We are so excited for them,” said Phayre, who guided her team to the Elite Eight two years ago. “They worked so hard and we are excited that they get the opportunity as well.”
Men’s coach Scott Faucher, who guided Nichols to a record-setting season and the NCAA Division 3 Elite Eight in 2018-19, began a rebuild at Assumption five years ago.
This season, the Greyhounds had an incredible start, which included an 11-game winning streak, and take a record of 19-9 into Saturday’s East Regional matchup with Southern New Hampshire at Daemen University in Amherst, New York.
“Any time you’re playing in March, it’s a pretty fun year,” Faucher said. “We’re excited to get going in the NCAA Tournament.”
The Assumption men, who fell in the quarterfinals of the NE-10 tourney, are making their 28th NCAA appearance.
Before Faucher’s arrival in 2019, the Greyhounds hadn’t won more than eight games in a season since 2012-13. Assumption averaged 14 wins over the last four years.
“Having a group that’s had the right approach and continues to buy into the process,” Faucher said, “every year we’ve gotten a little bit better, and this year, that next step for us was being in position to make the NCAA Tournament.”
Graduate guard Njavan Stewart, one of Faucher’s first recruits and the Assumption’s top scorer, has done a great job, Faucher said, of leading his younger teammates, including a very talented junior class.
Graduate guard Molly Stokes of Worcester was among the veterans who led the Assumption women, who began the year 7-1, over the last month.
“I think the seniors had a sense of urgency,” Phayre said. “Time was running out an from that (Southern Connecticut) game on, we started playing like we played at the beginning of the year. It’s exciting for sure.”
Senior forward Marina Callahan became just the third player in program history named to the All-NE-10 first team in back-to-back years. Callahan, who joined Kelly Meredith and Ann McInerney on that list, established career highs in points (13.6 ppg), rebounds (8.3 rpg), blocks (62) and steals (50).
The Assumption women are making their 10th NCAA appearance. The Greyhounds will play Holy Family at noon Friday at Bentley.
This is the first time the Greyhounds have made three straight NCAA appearances.
“It gets in your culture, and the seniors wanted to do it again,” Phayre said. “I think it’s now embedded in our team. That’s the expectation and where they want to get to.”
—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com, Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Assumption men’s and women’s basketball teams dance to NCAAs
