NCAA Div. III Sectional Semifinals

BATES at SOUTHERN MAINE

Time, site: Friday, 8 p.m., Hill Gymnasium, USM, Gorham

Records: No. 3 Bates 25-2, No. 4 Southern Maine 28-2

Key players: Bates – 5-9 F Olivia Zurek (16.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.8 spg), 6-1 C Meg Coffin (12.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg), 5-8 G Heather Taylor (8.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.4 rpg), 5-8 G Sarah Barton (7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.5 apg), 5-5 G Kyla Decato (7.0 ppg); USM – 5-9 F Ashley Marble (13.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg), 5-11 F Megan Myles (12.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.0 spg), 5-8 G Katie Frost (8.9 ppg, 3.8 apg, 2.4 rpg), 5-6 G Donna Cowing (6.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg), 5-5 G Katie Sibley (6.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Outlook: The Bates Bobcats, ranked No. 3 nationally in the D3Hoops.com poll and No. 4 by USA Today/ESPN Top 25 coaches poll, are trying to get back to the Elite Eight while the Huskies are in their third straight Sweet Sixteen after reeling off 26 consecutive victories. The winner will play the winner of Friday’s Springfield College/Wesleyan University game in a 7 p.m. Saturday final. USM’s Huskies are ranked fourth by D3Hoops.com and fifth in the USA Today/ESPN poll. The Huskies are holding opponents to 52.5 points and 33.7 percent shooting from the field per game while scoring 75.2 points and shooting 45.1 percent per game.

BOWDOIN vs. WILLIAM SMITH

Time, site: Friday, 6 p.m., Long Center, Scranton, Pa.

Records: No. 2 Bowdoin (25-2), William Smith (20-7)

Key players: Bowdoin – 5-11 F Eileen Flaherty (15.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), 5-11 Justine Pouravelis (8.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.6 spg), 6-0 G-F Marisa Berne (7.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg), 5-9 G-F Alison Smith (7.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg), 6-0 F Erika Nickerson (6.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), 5-6 G Katie Cummings (3.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.3 apg), 5-10 G Vanessa Russell (6.1 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.1 rpg); William Smith – 5-4 G Marisa Vespa (11.6 ppg, 5.2 apg, 3.8 rpg, 2.6 spg), 5-10 F Stephanie Czajkowski (9.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-9 G Pria Young (8.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.1 spg), 5-8 G Tara Brisson (6.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.8 apg), 5-11 Tanya Richvalsky (6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Outlook: The William Smith Herons have thrived as a spoiler the last two weeks with their defense, allowing 52.8 points per game while holding opponents to 33.5 percent shooting from the field. Each of their last 12 opponents have scored less than 60 points. Bowdoin is in its fifth consecutive Sweet Sixteen and has won 55 straight home games, but home court advantage isn’t a factor here. The Polar Bears are also defensive-oriented as they’ve held their last five opponents to less than 50 points.