WESTMINSTER, Md. – The McDaniel College women's basketball team survived a 29-7 run for Rutgers-Camden over the game's final 13 minutes to win 57-56 and advance to the championship game of the 2026 ECAC DIII Women's Basketball Championship Saturday.
 
The top-seeded Green Terror (21-7) recorded a win in the ECAC Tournament for the second straight season, having defeated Alvernia 52-39 in the opening round of last year's tournament. The team will play in its first tournament championship game since Mar. 9, 2014, when it lost to Catholic 75-63.
 
A three-pointer from sophomore Kendra Mason gave the Green Terror a 5-2 lead early in the first quarter. The Scarlet Raptors (14-14) later took their first lead following a three-point play with 2:02 left in the quarter, going up 10-9. Free throws from first-year Riley Waite gave McDaniel a 14-11 lead at the end of one.
 
The Green Terror outscored Rutgers-Camden 18-8 in the second quarter to increase their lead. Three-pointers from Mason and sophomore Lauren Cavoli grew the lead to 29-13 with 3:34 remaining in the half, going into the break with a 32-19 lead.
 
Following a three-pointer from Cavoli with 3:04 left in the third quarter, the Green Terror earned its largest lead of the game at 23, making the score 50-27. The Scarlet Raptors then scored the final seven points of the quarter, closing the gap to 16 at the end of three.
 
McDaniel kept its distance to begin the fourth quarter, maintaining a double-digit lead following baskets from senior Elaina Beckett and junior Teya McConnaha with 2:49 left in the game. Rutgers-Camden then rallied in the game's final minutes, forcing two missed shots, two turnovers and five McDaniel fouls to claw back into the contest. The Scarlet Raptors cut the deficit down to one on a free throw with less than a second remaining, but missed the game-tying free throw moments later to fall 57-56 and advance the Green Terror into the championship match.
 
Cavoli tied for the game-high with 17 points, connecting on 5-of-12 three pointers. Beckett flirted with a triple-double, totaling 15 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and four steals. McConnaha finished with her ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Green Terror will play for the tournament championship tomorrow against Brooklyn College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 pm.