For a couple teams who have been mainstays in the NCAA tournament, Saturday was their last chance to make the big dance again. Southern Maine was just seventh in the last public regional rankings behind two other conference opponents, meaning the Huskies� streak of 14 consecutive national playoff appearances was in jeopardy. But two late three-pointers lifted Southern Maine past No. 15 Eastern Connecticut, 64-59 and extended the impressive run to 15 NCAA tournaments.

Mary Washington faced a similar predicament, placing sixth in the last public regional rankings behind York (Pa.) and Marymount. The Eagles will also head to the tournament after ending the Spartans� 25-game winning streak and claiming the CAC�s automatic bid, 67-56. Kean has made runs in recent NCAA tournaments, but the Cougars are at risk of missing this one. TCNJ defeated Kean 69-57 in the NJAC title game.

Several favorites showed why they have that distinction in impressive fashion. No. 1 Illinois Wesleyan completed a perfect run to the NCAA tournament by beating Carthage in the CCIW final, 75-55. No. 3 George Fox matched the feat by topping Puget Sound, 67-58. No. 2 Hope soared past St. Mary�s (Ind.), the only team to beat the Flying Dutch this season, 77-47. Get caught up on the full day's action on the scoreboard.

&&g-boxr&&There was still plenty of room for surprising champions to claim automatic bids. Widener followed up its road win over No. 13 Messiah with a dramatic double-overtime win at Lebanon Valley, 75-72. Beth Dessart Mager got a crucial steal with four seconds left and hit a free throw to give the Pride its margin of victory. Fifth seeded Salve Regina won at Endicott 72-67 to claim the CCC's automatic bid. Who else is in? Check our list.

Brockport State came from behind to end Potsdam State�s Cinderella run in the SUNYAC final, 57-51. The seventh-seeded Bears beat the top two seeds, Cortland State and New Paltz State, on the road to get to the finals but couldn�t overcome Whitney Smith�s 23 points. Westfield State cruised past sixth-seeded Salem State 80-54 in the MASCAC championship.

Contrary to an NCAA release earlier in the week, the women's basketball championships committee will not be announcing women's at-large bids on Sunday night. Whoever is playing Wednesday night in the single first-round game may not even know it's in the tournament until 56 hours before tipoff!

That will be a nervous wait for almost every team in the last East regional rankings. With Cortland State already ousted from its conference tournament, Union and Ithaca met similar fates. St. Lawrence defeated the Dutchwomen 71-61 in the Liberty League final. Stevens reached its first NCAA tournament by edging the Bombers, 59-57. The other two ranked teams, No. 6 Rochester and No. 20 NYU, won today but play in the UAA where Washington U. has claimed the automatic bid.

With the bubble getting crowded, Capital and Transylvania took care of business. The Crusaders held off Baldwin-Wallace 53-41 to claim the OAC automatic bid. The Pioneers did the same in the HCAC, defeating Hanover 71-61. No. 5 UW-Stevens Point beat No. 12 UW-Eau Claire 46-42, putting the Blugolds on the list of teams looking for an at-large bid. St. Benedict beat Concordia-Moorhead for the MIAC title. Photo gallery.

LeighAnn Burke put DeSales on her back to the tune of 29 points and seven assists in a 70-60 win against Manhattanville. Mount St. Mary rolled to its tenth consecutive Skyline title with an 86-56 win over Farmingdale State. Maryville (Mo.) finished another run through the SLIAC with an 83-59 win over Fontbonne. The Saints haven�t lost to a conference opponent since February 26, 2005.

In semifinal action defending champion Howard Payne did it to McMurry, yet again. Just as they did last year in the conference and NCAA tournaments, the Yellow Jackets ousted McMurry who is hosting the ASC women's tournament, 53-51. Howard Payne meets Hardin-Simmons for the title tomorrow.

Krista Prato Matthews scored 27 points and surpassed the 1,000-rebound mark for her career as the Tigers of Trinity (Texas) upset the Tigers of DePauw 98-80. It's Trinity's first trip to the SCAC title game since 2006 where No. 10 Oglethorpe awaits. The Stormy Petrels cruised past Centre, 71-51.