NYU men and women reach finals with shot to make NCAA Division III history

NYU? Well, why not?

New York University has the opportunity on Saturday to make NCAA Division III history as the first program to win men’s and women’s championships in the same season as the teams both won their semifinal games on Thursday night.

The Violets women’s team continued rolling to the title game with its 61st consecutive victory, 74-55 in the semifinals over the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Salem, Va.

Natalie Bruns, shooting a layup during a game earlier in the season, scored 19 points to help lead the NYU women's basketball team to a 74-55 win over over the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the NCAA Division III semifinals. — Natalie Bruns, shooting a layup during a game earlier in the season, scored 19 points to help lead the NYU women’s basketball team to a 74-55 win over over the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the NCAA Division III semifinals. NYU Athletics

Belle Pellecchia led the way with 22 points and Natalie Bruns added 19 as the Violets (30-0) took a 41-20 halftime lead.

The top overall seed takes on Smith College on Saturday at 4 p.m. in a rematch of the 2024 championship game which NYU won 51-41.

On the men’s side, Hampton Sanders had 10 points and Brock Susko added 16 with 12 rebounds to lead NYU to a 72-60 semifinal win over Washington University (St. Louis) in Fort Wayne, Ind.

NYU (29-1) takes on Trinity College on Saturday, also at 4 p.m., in the school’s first appearance in the championship game since being runners-up in 1994.