Local teams hold spots in Division III tournaments

The NCAA Division III basketball tournament brackets were released yesterday with three men's teams and a women's program representing the Delaware Valley.

On the men's side, Cabrini (22-5), Gwynedd-Mercy (21-6) and Delaware Valley College (17-10) will open first-round play in the 61-team tournament on Friday. Del-Val - which received its berth by virtue of its first Freedom Conference title in program history - will open against host Virginia Wesleyan (23-4) at 7:30 p.m. The winner will play the winner of Franklin & Marshall and North Carolina Wesleyan on Saturday.

Cabrini will host a regional round against New Jersey City (19-9) at 7:30, with the winner to play the winner of SUNY Purchase vs. Hartwick on Saturday. Gwynedd-Mercy will travel to Ramapo College for a Friday night tilt against Buffalo State (21-6) at 5:30. The winner will play winner of the nightcap between Ramapo and Johnson & Wales.

For the women, Neumann (20-7), the Colonial States Athletic Conference champion, will travel to host Lebanon Valley (25-2) on Friday in first-round action. The winner will play the winner of Randolph-Macon and Bridgewater State on Saturday. Friday's game time is to be announced.

- Kerith Gabriel