Bowdoin College refuses to let the winter sports season come to a close.

Women’s basketball

Last weekend, the women’s basketball team defeated Baruch, 67-53, and Western Connecticut, 65-43, to advance to the “Sweet 16,” or sectionals of the Division III tournament, for the first time in three years. In the first victory, Katie Bergeron erupted for 19 points. Against Western Connecticut, Caitlin Hynes had 17 points, while Leah Rubega added 14 and had 12 rebounds. The Polar Bears (22-6) will face Kean University Friday in their next contest. Rochester and Christopher Newport (Va.) are the other two teams in the sectional. The winners will play for a right to go to the Final Four on Saturday. In other women’s basketball news, Hynes and Rubega were named last week to the NESCAC second-team.

Men’s basketball

The Bowdoin men’s basketball season is over, but senior Mark Phillips learned last week that he is a NESCAC first-team all-star selection. Phillips averaged 15.1 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest.

Men’s hockey

The Bowdoin men’s hockey team is NCAA Division III tournament-bound. Last weekend, the Polar Bears defeated Hamilton, 6-2, in the NESCAC semifinals, behind a five-goal third period outburst. Daniel Weiniger had two goals and a pair of assists, while goalie Chris Rossi stopped 26 shots. Bowdoin wasn’t able to win the conference crown, however, losing, 3-2, to Middlebury in the championship game. Ryan Blossom had both Bowdoin goals. Rossi suffered his first loss, despite making 25 saves. The Polar Bears (19-6-1) did earn an at-large bid into the NCAAs and will meet Oswego in the quarterfinals Saturday. In other news, earlier in the week, Weiniger was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year, while Kyle Shearer-Hardy was named a league first-team all-star.

Women’s hockey

Bowdoin’s women’s hockey team wasn’t as fortunate as the men. The Polar Bears saw their season end at 12-12-2 after a 3-2, overtime loss to Amherst in the NESCAC semifinals. Michaela Calnan and Kayte Holtz gave Bowdoin a 2-0 lead, but the Polar Bears couldn’t hold on. Kayla Lessard stopped 49 shots in defeat.

Indoor track

The indoor track season came to a close last weekend at the ECAC championships in Massachusetts. The Bowdoin women finished 14th, while the men placed 25th. Long jumper Laura Peterson qualified for the NCAA championship meet.

Bowdoin’s Leah Rubega drives against two defenders during the Polar Bears contest with Western Connecticut last weekend.

Bowdoin’s Caitlin Hynes looks for an open teammate during a first-round win over Baruch last weekend.

Bowdoin whoops it up in the waning moments of its win over Western Connecticut. The Polar Bears advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

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