| In 1998-99,
the NEW 8 Conference began sponsorship of men's athletic programs under
a new name, the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference. The first
championship was hosted by WPI and was won by Clark University 72-69 over
Springfield College. In 2000, the Cougars and Pride again faced off in the
championship final which Springfield won 68-60 and earned the automatic
bid to the NCAA Tournament. Clark was crowned the 2001 NEWMAC Champion after
winning the regular season. The Cougars defeated Babson College 77-57 to
win the tournament and advance to the NCAA's. In 2002, Clark won the regular
season and was named NEWMAC Champion for the second consecutive year. Babson
defeated Wheaton College 44-42 to earn the right to represent the conference
in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In 2003, the NEWMAC champion and automatic
berth to the NCAA Tournament were determined in the conference tournament.
Clark earned the top seed for the tournament and captured the title with
a thrilling overtime win over second-seeded Babson. In 2004, WPI claimed
the regular season championship in a year that saw a dramatic turnaround
for a team that finished 1-11 in NEWMAC play the year before. Babson upset
WPI in the NEWMAC semi-finals, and went on to defeat Springfield College
on a buzzer-beating tip-in to capture the 2004 NEWMAC championship. |