PROVIDENCE, R.I.-The University of Southern Maine will host the semifinal and championship rounds of the 2008 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Tournament for the sixth straight season and 12th overall at the Warren Hill Gymnasium on Feb. 29 and March 1. In the 21-year history of the conference tournament, the Huskies have yet to miss the semifinal round, sporting 21 consecutive appearances.

The top-four teams in the 2008 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship draw defended their homecourt advantage in the quarterfinal round to advance to the semifinals in Gorham, Maine. The No. 3 seed Western Connecticut State University (20-5) and No. 2 seed Eastern Connecticut State University (22-4) square off in the first semifinal match at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 29, while the No. 4 seed Keene State College (16-10) and top-seeded hosts University of Southern Maine (24-2) tip-off at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the finale. The two semifinal winners meet in the championship game at 4 p.m. on March 1. The 2008 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Tournament champion earns the automatic qualifier to the 63-team NCAA Tournament pool.

Southern Maine and Keene State College are meeting in the conference tournament semifinals for the fourth time with the Huskies owning all three victories on their home court. Southern Maine swept the season series this season, winning a pair of tight contests (average margin of victory: 5 points). On Jan. 26, the Huskies built a 16-point halftime advantage just to see the Owls outscore their hosts 38-27 in the final frame to whittle their deficit to just five. Freshman forward Becky Dixon (Pittstown, Maine) lead all scorers with 17 points, while senior forward Josalee Danieli (New Gloucester, Maine) added 10 points for Southern Maine. Keene State sophomore guard Nicole Simmler (Oxford, Mass.) led the Owls nearly posting a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds.

The first semifinal has NCAA Tournament implications on the line as a pair of 20-win teams square off. With only 24 available bids (3 Pool B, 21 Pool C) remaining to the national tournament, the team which reaches the conference finals would have a decisive advantage when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on March 3. The Colonials and Warriors split their regular season series with each squad holding serve on its home court. Eastern Connecticut edged Western Connecticut in the latest meeting on Feb. 12, outscoring the visitors by nine points in the second stanza for a 65-61 win. The Warriors are led by junior center Ashley McFetridge (Canton, Conn.), who is averaging 15.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while Western Connecticut offense is piloted by senior point guard Allie Greenwood (East Haven, Conn.) and her team-leading 12.6 points and 5.36 assists per game.

For complete coverage of the 2008 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament, please click the Tournament Central home page on the official Little East Conference Web site.