Let's be real. This one was a coronation, not a contest. From the moment the final note of the National Anthem faded, the NYU Violets made it crystal clear: they were here to collect their crown. And collect it they did.
Forget a nail-biter. Forget a comeback. The Violets, a force of nature disguised as a women's basketball team, absolutely dismantled Smith College 77-49 on Saturday, March 22nd, securing their second consecutive NCAA Division III National Championship. And, just for good measure, they capped off their second straight 31-0 season. Yeah, you heard that right.
We're talking history here, people. NYU joins an elite club, only the third D-III women's team to pull off back-to-back undefeated seasons, and the fourth to snag consecutive titles. And if that wasn't enough, their 62-game winning streak? That's eighth-longest in NCAA women's basketball history, across ALL divisions.
"The streak wasn't the goal, the championship was," a composed Head Coach Meg Barber told reporters after the dominant victory. "This team, they just work. Every day. They respect the game, they respect the uniform."
And that work showed from the jump. A suffocating defense, a clinical offense, the Violets were surgical. Seven first-quarter turnovers forced, 11-of-18 shooting, and boom– a 26-8 lead after ten minutes. Game. Set. Match.
"We wanted to be aggressive from the start," said Belle Pellecchia, who led the charge with 18 points. "Defense fuels our offense. That was my focus."
By halftime, the lead was 41-22, a 26-point cushion at one point. Smith tried to claw back, a brief 16-point deficit, but NYU slammed the door shut with a 10-1 run. By the end of the third, it was 63-36, and the fourth quarter was just a formality.
Five Violets hit double figures, a testament to their balanced attack. Pellecchia, in her final collegiate game, was stellar. Fifth-year grad student Natalie Bruns nearly notched a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists, and adding four blocks for good measure. Jamie Behar, Brooke Batchelor, and Caroline Peper also contributed significantly.
The numbers don't lie. 51.9 percent shooting for NYU, 32.1 percent for Smith. Total domination.
"This senior class, they've changed this program forever," Barber said, her voice filled with pride. "Historic. GOAT-level. Belle, Natalie, Chloe Teter, Mary Kate Fahey – they're the reason we're here. I couldn't be prouder."
So, there you have it. NYU. Undefeated. Unstoppable. Unquestionably, the best. And as they bid farewell to a legendary senior class, the question now becomes: who can stop them next year?
