The first set of conferences wrap up league play this weekend, and as always, there are plenty of final day scenarios that could potentially play out in the race for conference tournament berths. Naturally, many of these affect Aussies, but mercifully, most have their destiny in their own hands heading into their final match. Let’s take a look at what’s set to play out this weekend…
Note: The following teams/players play their final league games this weekend but are already eliminated from conference tournament contention: Margaux Chauvet (Purdue, Big Ten); Jasmine Black (George Washington, Atlantic 10); Lara Aitken (Jacksonville State, Conference USA)
Atlantic Sun – Gold Division
Current Standings
(Top 4 Teams In Each Division Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky | 2nd | 9 | 15 |
| Bellarmine | 3rd | 9 | 12 |
| North Alabama | 4th | 9 | 12 |
| Central Arkansas | 5th | 9 | 11 |
Remaining Fixtures
- Bellarmine v Austin Peay
- Central Arkansas v North Alabama
- Eastern Kentucky v Lipscomb
Bellarmine (Teagan Douglas)
Status: Destiny In Their Hands
The equation is quite simple for Teagan Douglas and Bellarmine: secure at least a draw against bottom-placed Austin Peay and they secure a conference tournament berth. However, a win would ensure a third-place finish in the Gold Division and a slightly less arduous path through the tournament. The Knights already defeated Austin Peay 2-1 on the road this year, and with the return fixture being played on Bellarmine’s home patch, they will be fully expected to come away with the result they need to continue their season.
Should the Knights lose to Austin Peay, any result other than a draw in the game between Central Arkansas and North Alabama will be enough to ensure they qualify regardless.
Atlantic 10
Current Standings
(Top 8 Teams Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fordham | 7th | 9 | 13 |
| VCU | 8th | 9 | 13 |
| Davidson | 9th | 9 | 11 |
| George Mason | 10th | 9 | 10 |
Remaining Fixtures
- George Mason v Saint Joseph’s
- George Washington v Fordham
- VCU v Davidson
George Mason (Libby Davy)
Status: Already Eliminated…maybe?
First things first, George Mason must avoid a direct head-to-head tiebreaker with either Fordham or VCU, as they lost to both teams earlier in the season. Therefore, they need to not only defeat Saint Joseph’s, but Fordham and VCU must lose to leave all three teams on 13 points and into a three-team tiebreak for the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament. From there, we move to the tiebreaker rules for the Atlantic 10.
Step A: Head-to-Head competition. Fordham did not play VCU this year, so this step is rendered moot despite George Mason’s losses to both teams.
Step B: Conference record versus all common conference opponents. The three teams in question had five common opponents this year: St Bonaventure, Richmond, Saint Joseph’s, La Salle, and Davidson. Should the results shake out in a way that sees the three teams tied, they will all have picked up 10 points against these five opponents, meaning we move on.
Step C: Conference record against highest placed common opponent, moving down through the standings until a tiebreaker is found (if possible). All three teams defeated St. Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s, and Richmond, making those games moot for the purposes of this tiebreaker. That leaves La Salle and Davidson, whose finishing positions are not yet known. VCU picked up a point against La Salle, whilst Fordham and George Mason both lost to the Explorers, so in that situation, VCU would win the tiebreaker.
However, if Davidson were to finish above La Salle, Fordham and George Mason drew with Davidson whilst VCU lost. In that case, VCU would be eliminated, and we would return to the head-to-head tiebreaker between Fordham and George Mason. Fordham defeated George Mason, so unfortunately it appears as though Fordham would take the final tournament spot, meaning George Mason are already eliminated regardless of results.
Although this doesn’t make for good reading for Libby Davy and the Patriots, this took an almighty read of the tiebreak rules, and there is always a chance we’ve misread something.
Coastal – North Division
Current Standings
(Top 3 Teams In Each Division Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hofstra | 3rd | 8 | 9 |
| Towson | 4th | 8 | 9 |
| Drexel | 5th | 8 | 8 |
| Northeastern | 6th | 8 | 8 |
Remaining Fixtures
- Drexel v Towson
- Monmouth v Northeastern
- Stony Brook v Hofstra
Hofstra (Lilly Bailey)
Status: Destiny In Their Hands
There is only one sure path for Hofstra to qualify for the conference tournament: defeat arch-rival Stony Brook on the road. Should they fail to win, any result other than a draw in the game between Drexel and Towson will knock them out, as would an upset win for Northeastern over Monmouth.
Coastal – South Division
Current Standings
(Top 3 Teams In Each Division Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elon | 2nd | 8 | 14 |
| William & Mary | 3rd | 8 | 14 |
| Charleston | 4th | 8 | 13 |
Remaining Fixtures
- Elon v Charleston
- William & Mary v Hampton
Charleston (Viktorija Calusic)
Status: Destiny In Their Hands
Viktorija Calusic and Charleston sit a point out of the conference tournament spots as things stand, but their final game comes against Elon, who sit just one point above the Cougars. This is a true case of “win and you’re in”; a draw won’t be enough here. Even if Hampton upset William & Mary, Charleston would lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Tribe.
Ohio Valley
Current Standings
(Top 8 Teams Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 1st | 8 | 18 |
| Tennessee Tech | 2nd | 8 | 18 |
| Lindenwood | 3rd | 8 | 16 |
| Eastern Illinois | 4th | 8 | 16 |
Remaining Fixtures
- Little Rock v Lindenwood
- Tennessee Tech v Eastern Illinois
Little Rock (Claudia Hewitt, Candice Kilderry, Serenity Thake)
Status: Already Qualified, Aiming For A Regular Season Title
Little Rock have already secured a position in the Ohio Valley Conference’s eight-team tournament, but can still finish anywhere from first to third depending on the final day results. Fortuitously, the top four teams play each other on the final day, creating even more excitement. The Trojans hold top spot at the moment, so a win over Lindenwood will be enough to secure the regular season title and top seed in the tournament. A draw would see them finish no worse than second, but a loss combined with any result other than a draw between Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois would drop the Trojans to third. The top two teams receive a double-bye in the tournament, so there is a lot more than just initial seeding at play here.
Summit
Current Standings
(Top 6 Teams Qualify For Conference Tournament)
| Team | Position | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Roberts | 1st | 7 | 19 |
| Denver | 2nd | 7 | 16 |
Remaining Fixtures
- Denver v South Dakota
- Oral Roberts v South Dakota State
Denver (Isabella Chidiac)
Status: Second Seed Confirmed, Aiming For A Regular Season Title
With Oral Roberts three points clear of Denver and owning the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Golden Eagles will finish as the #1 seed, that much is known. However, although Denver cannot secure the #1 seed, a win over South Dakota combined with a loss by Oral Roberts to South Dakota State will see the two teams split the regular season title.
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