University of the District of Columbia Basketball Teams to Compete in First-Ever ECC Championship Tournament
Tournament Central and Video Links
ECC Insider Blog - Tournament Preview
FLUSHING, NY - The University of the District of Columbia men's and women's basketball teams will both compete in their first-ever East Coast Conference Championship Tournament this weekend at Queens College.
The Firebird men's team finished the season with an overall record of 22-4 and a league mark of 13-3. They are currently ranked No. 23 in the nation and No. 6 in the East Region.
Under third-year head coach Jeff Ruland, UDC doubled its win total from the previous season and was ranked as high as No. 18 in the NABC poll. In its inaugural season as members of the ECC, the Firebirds beat all but one team in the conference at least once and swept six of the eight other teams.
UDC is a No. 2 seed in the tournament, hosted by Queens College. After a first-round bye, the Firebirds will take on No. 3 University of Bridgeport on Saturday, March 3rd at 7:30 p.m.
The Firebird women's team finished the season with an overall record of 21-5 and a league mark of 12-4. They are currently No. 5 in the East Region.
UDC enjoyed its sixth 20-win season in the program's history and the third under eighth-year head coach Lester Butler, Jr. The Firebirds were ranked in the top-25 for three straight weeks in February, including a season-best No. 23 nod. Also in its inaugural season as members of the ECC, the Firebirds beat all but one of the eight other teams in the league at least once, and swept five.
The women's team is also a No. 2 seed in the tournament at Queens. After a first-round bye, the Firebirds will take on No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, March 3rd at 2:30 p.m.