NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - For the first time in the history of the Little East Conference, three teams will enter the 2009 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament under the conference banner. The Little East Conference has sent at least two teams to the national tournament in 13 of its 23 years sponsoring women’s basketball. Eastern Connecticut State University, University of Southern Maine, and Western Connecticut State University each received an invitation to compete in the 63-team field.

The Warriors, Huskies, and Colonials each advanced to the NCAA Tournament in a three-year span from 1990 to 1992, but Western Connecticut had yet to join the Little East Conference. The Colonials became the seventh member of the conference for the 1994 campaign.

Eastern Connecticut (25-3) is making the program’s 12th appearance in the national field. The Warriors earned an at-large bid after advancing to the finals of the Little East Conference Championship. Head Coach Denise Bierly guided Eastern Connecticut to the top-seed in the conference tournament after posting a 13-1 mark and matching the program’s most successful season in the Little East since 2001 team.

The Warriors will travel to Grantham, Pa. for first and second round action, beginning on March 6. Eastern Connecticut will face host Messiah College (22-4), while Thomas Moore (26-2) and Randolph-Macon (23-5) complete the four-team site.

Southern Maine is making its 15th consecutive and 23rd overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies earned the automatic qualifier into the national tournament after defeating top-seeded Eastern Connecticut in the Little East Conference Championship on Saturday evening. Head Coach Mike McDevitt, in his first year on the Southern Maine sideline, led the Huskies to a 22-6 overall record.

Southern Maine will battle Emmanuel College (21-7) in its first round game on Friday night, while host Amherst College (25-2) and Babson College (20-8) will also be in action The two first round winners will advance to the second round the following evening.

Western Connecticut State University (21-5) punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998 and 11th overall. Head Coach Kimberley Rybczyk and the Colonials earned one of 20 at-large berths after posting their second straight and sixth season with at least 20 wins.

Western Connecticut drew host Brandeis University (17-7) in the first round, while Mount St. Mary (23-4) and Brockport State (19-9) will round out the four-team site. Game times for each of the first round contests will be determined tomorrow.