For the first time, the NEC Women's Basketball Tournament did not use what the conference calls a "complete high-seed hosting" format, in which all games are played at the home of the higher seed. In addition, the tournament did not reseed teams after each round, a format it had used since the 2011 edition. Instead, each half of the bracket was hosted by one of the league's two top seeds. The final continues to be played at the home court of the top remaining seed.[1]
Seeds
The NEC uses the following criteria for breaking two-way ties in the conference standings:[3]
Head-to-head record.
Record against the top team not involved in the tie. If more than one team is tied for a given conference placing, the teams' combined records against all teams involved in that tie are compared instead.
If the tie is not broken, repeat the above step with the next-lowest team not involved in the tie, with the noted caveat in the case of a tie for that placing. Repeat as necessary.
If the tie is not broken after cycling through the entire conference table, RPI is used.
The procedure for breaking ties in which three or more teams are involved will not be discussed here, since no such ties existed this season.
Seed
School
Conference
Overall
Tiebreaker 1
Tiebreaker 2
Tiebreaker 3
1
Saint Francis (PA)
16–2
21–9
1–1 vs. RMU
3–1 vs. SFB/SHU, 12–0 vs. remainder of NEC
RPI: 117
2
Robert Morris
16–2
23–6
1–1 vs. SFU
3–1 vs. SFB/SHU, 12–0 vs. remainder of NEC
RPI: 132
3
St. Francis Brooklyn
9–9
13–16
1–1 vs. SHU
1–3 vs. SFU/RMU, 4–0 vs. Bryant/LIUB
4
Sacred Heart
9–9
13–16
1–1 vs. SFB
1–3 vs. SFU/RMU, 2–2 vs. Bryant/LIUB
5
Bryant
8–10
9–20
1–1 vs. LIUB
0–4 vs. SFU/RMU, 3–1 vs. SFB/SHU
6
LIU Brooklyn
8–10
12–17
1–1 vs. Bryant
0–4 vs. SFU/RMU, 1–3 vs. SFB/SHU
7
Central Connecticut
7–11
7–22
1–1 vs. FDU
0–4 vs. SFU/RMU, 3–1 vs. SFB/SHU
8
Fairleigh Dickinson
7–11
15–14
1–1 vs. CC
0–4 vs. SFU/RMU, 2–2 vs. SFB/SHU
Bracket
Quarterfinals Wednesday, March 7 NEC Front Row
Semifinals Thursday, March 8 ESPN3
Championship Sunday, March 11 ESPNU
1
Saint Francis (PA)
89
8
Fairleigh Dickinson
70
1
Saint Francis (PA)
78
4
Sacred Heart
47
4
Sacred Heart
80
5
Bryant
63
1
Saint Francis (PA)
66
2
Robert Morris
56
2
Robert Morris
60
7
Central Connecticut
54
2
Robert Morris
74
6
LIU Brooklyn
44
3
St. Francis Brooklyn
56
6
LIU Brooklyn
59
The top two seeds each hosted their half of the bracket; the final was hosted by the top remaining seed.