CENTERVILLE, Mass. -- The University of New England women's basketball team has been named the top seed for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship, and is slated to host No. 8 Smith College in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday (March 2) at 7 p.m. The ECAC released the pairings for the eight-team field this evening.

The Nor'easters enter the tourney with a record of 21-7 on the season, after falling in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) title game to Salve Regina University, 76-74. The Pioneers (17-10) also reached the last day of their conference postseason tournament, dropping a 74-49 decision to Babson College in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) final.

2011 ECAC New England Women's Basketball Championship

Quarterfinal Round | Biddeford, Maine

Wednesday, March 2 | 7:00 p.m.

#1 University of New England (21-7) vs. #8 Smith College (17-10)

In other opening-round contests, second-seed University of Southern Maine (16-10) will host No. 7 Regis College (16-11), and No. 3 Endicott College (16-9) is set to entertain the sixth seed, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (17-9). In the No. 4/No. 5 matchup, Suffolk University (18-9) visits Worcester Polytechnic Institute (18-7).

The quarterfinal round winners will meet at the site of the highest remaining seed on Saturday for both semifinal matches, and Sunday's Championship Game will be played at that location as well.

For the tournament bracket, click here.