BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The top-seeded University of New England Nor'easters will host the third-seeded Salve Regina University Seahawks tomorrow (Feb. 23) afternoon in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Women's Basketball Championship title game at the Harold Alfond Forum beginning at 2 p.m.

2013 CCC Women's Basketball Championship
Championship Game ~ Saturday, February 23
Biddeford, Maine ~ 2:00 p.m.
#1 UNE (23-4, 18-0) vs. #3 Salve Regina (17-10, 12-6)
Last Meeting: January 26, 2013 (UNE won at home in OT, 74-71)
Recent Series (since 1999-00): Salve Regina leads, 11-6

The winner will earn the CCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, scheduled to begin Friday, March 1.

UNE (23-4) went undefeated in conference play during the regular season, racking up an 18-0 mark in the CCC. The Nor'easters defeated Wentworth Institute of Technology, 62-32, in Tuesday's quarterfinal-round game, then cruised past Endicott College, 69-48, one of last night's semifinal-round contests. Big Blue is ranked ninth in the most recent NCAA Division III Northeast Region poll.

Salve Regina (17-10) posted a 12-6 conference mark during the regular season. The Seahawks moved through the opening round with a 74-52 win over Eastern Nazarene College before downing second-seeded Roger Williams University, 69-48, last night. Salve is two-time defending CCC champion.

The Nor'easters are led by CCC Player of the Year Beth Suggs (Bath, Maine), who has 15 double-doubles this year while averaging 14.5 points and 11.3 rebounds. Sophomore Kelly Coleman (Portland, Conn.) has recorded eight double-doubles on her way to 12.0 points and 7.4 caroms a contest. First-year Lauren Hayden (Chantilly, Va.) led UNE in its semifinal win over Endicott with 17 points and seven steals. She is averaging 8.7 points with a school single-season-record 93 steals to her credit.

Salve Regina is paced by CCC Rookie of the Year Meaghan Harden (Sandwich, Mass.). Harden will bring a 16.1 points-per-game average into the title game. Senior Kaitlyn Birrell (Hope, R.I.) was voted the CCC Defensive Player of the Year and should be a factor for the Seahawks, as should junior Marissa Pendergast (Medfield, Mass.), who averages 10.0 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Two of the league's most successful coaches will be at the head of their respective benches. CCC Coach of the Year Anthony Ewing has amassed an impressive 125-44 record during his six-year tenure at UNE, while sixth-year coach Cori Hughes owns a 111-53 ledger with the Seahawks.

During the regular season, the Nor'easters had a strong second half to come away with 67-52 first-semester road win. Most recently (Jan. 26), UNE edged Salve Regina in overtime, 74-71.

Ewing expects yet another close game with the Seahawks.

"We know we are going to get Salve's best effort," Ewing said. "They have plenty of tournament experience and possess solid veteran leadership. Tomorrow's game should be a classic match-up between two quality teams."

UNE and Salve Regina own the last four CCC championships, with the Seahawks winning the last two, as well as 2009, and the Nor'easters coming away with the 2010 championship.