WBB: NESCAC

[scorpio]

Does anyone know why Amherst and Smith College do not play annually in the regular season?

The two colleges are separated by 8 miles and have both gone to multiple Final 4s in recent years.  It seems like it would be a great Division 3 non-conference game. I wonder if one school is ducking the other in this situation.

[ItsATuftSituation]

Does anyone know why Amherst and Smith College do not play annually in the regular season?

The two colleges are separated by 8 miles and have both gone to multiple Final 4s in recent years.  It seems like it would be a great Division 3 non-conference game. I wonder if one school is ducking the other in this situation.

Well...both GP and Lynn both started at their respective schools in 2007-08. I wonder if Lynn was upset she didn't get the job at Amherst after being an assistant there for six years, and said I'm all set on playing Amherst again. Seems like the most plausible explanation.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Does anyone know why Amherst and Smith College do not play annually in the regular season?

The two colleges are separated by 8 miles and have both gone to multiple Final 4s in recent years.  It seems like it would be a great Division 3 non-conference game. I wonder if one school is ducking the other in this situation.

Well...both GP and Lynn both started at their respective schools in 2007-08. I wonder if Lynn was upset she didn't get the job at Amherst after being an assistant there for six years, and said I'm all set on playing Amherst again. Seems like the most plausible explanation.

I do not find that explanation the most plausible.

[saratoga]

I do find that explanation to be highly probable.
There had to be a degree of disappointment that the job was not offered to her...it's a human reaction after giving 7 years of your life to that program.
That decision became somewhat validated by GP's early success at Amherst while Smith struggled for a few years before the current winning culture was being formed.
They played each other that first year 07'/08' & Amherst won big.
They hadn't played again until the NCAA God's brought them together last year in what became a classic barn burner.
No idea who's call it was to terminate future contracts to play but it's pretty apparent someone did.

[ItsATuftSituation]

Does anyone know why Amherst and Smith College do not play annually in the regular season?

The two colleges are separated by 8 miles and have both gone to multiple Final 4s in recent years.  It seems like it would be a great Division 3 non-conference game. I wonder if one school is ducking the other in this situation.

Okay...then what opinion would yours be to be the most plausible? I'm giving you my best take, what's yours?

Does anyone know why Amherst and Smith College do not play annually in the regular season?

The two colleges are separated by 8 miles and have both gone to multiple Final 4s in recent years.  It seems like it would be a great Division 3 non-conference game. I wonder if one school is ducking the other in this situation.

Well...both GP and Lynn both started at their respective schools in 2007-08. I wonder if Lynn was upset she didn't get the job at Amherst after being an assistant there for six years, and said I'm all set on playing Amherst again. Seems like the most plausible explanation.

I do not find that explanation the most plausible.

Well...both GP and Lynn both started at their respective schools in 2007-08. I wonder if Lynn was upset she didn't get the job at Amherst after being an assistant there for six years, and said I'm all set on playing Amherst again. Seems like the most plausible explanation.

I do not find that explanation the most plausible.

I don't really care, I just gave my best guess at why they don't play. What's your explanation then Ryan?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I have not heard anything from Smith directly, but when I look at the schedules, Smith has consistently played more good teams in non-conference.  If I had to choose, I'd say it's more plausible the rejection is going the other direction.

[scorpio]

According to the following link, Amherst College and Smith College played every season from the 1977-78 season through the 2006-07 season. They didn't play again until last season's NCAA Tournament.

https://gosmithbears.com/sports/womens-basketball/opponent-history/amherst-college/20

This season, Smith scheduled 5 NESCAC colleges in their schedule. In 2023-24 and 2024-25, Smith played 4 NESCAC colleges in the regular season.