Women's Basketball Falls to Albany; Men to Play Rider Tuesday

Hartford senior Nikkia Smith led all players with 18 points in Saturday's championship game against Albany. Photo by Steve McLaughlin.

The Hartford men's basketball team will host Rider in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament on Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in Chase Arena.

Senior Nikkia Smith led all players with 18 points, but the University of Hartford women's basketball team dropped a 61-52 decision to the Albany Great Danes Saturday evening in the title game of the 2013 America East Championship.

Smith, who was named to the All-Championship Team, was the only Hawk who finished in double figures.

The Hawks (21-11 overall) now await a Monday night announcement by the Women's Postseason NIT that will determine if they receive their second at-large bid to the tournament.

See complete coverage and video footage from Saturday's title game.


Men to Host Rider in Their First Postseason Tournament

Meanwhile, the Hartford men's basketball team has learned that it will host the Rider Broncs out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in the opening round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament on Tuesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in Chase Arena.

This is the first time in the University's Division I history that the men's basketball team has been invited to play in a postseason tournament.

Come out and support the Hawks on Tuesday in their first-ever postseason appearance!

To buy tickets for Tuesday's game, stop by the Athletics Box Office in the Sports Center, call the box office at 860.768.HAWK (4295), or order tickets online at www.HartfordHawksTickets.com. Ticket prices are: general admission ($5), gallery seating ($12), lower chair back ($15), courtside ($20) and VIP ($30). Tickets are free for University of Hartford students with valid ID.

Hartford and Rider will meet on Tuesday for just the second time in both teams' Division I eras. The lone meeting between the two teams came on neutral ground on December 30, 2004, at the Oneida Bingo and Casino Classic in Green Bay, Wisc. The Hawks coasted to a 68-57 win in that game.

Read more about Hartford's upcoming appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.