NYU Completes Perfect Season, Repeats as NCAA DIII Basketball Champion

New York University secured its second consecutive NCAA Division III women’s basketball championship with a 77-49 victory over Smith College on Saturday in Salem, Virginia.

The Violets completed a second straight 31-0 season and extended their winning streak to 62 games, becoming just the third team in Division III women’s history to record back-to-back undefeated campaigns. NYU also became the fourth program to win consecutive national titles.

NYU took control early, opening the game with an 11-0 run and leading 26-8 after the first quarter. The Violets shot 61.1% in the opening period and forced Smith into seven turnovers. Their lead reached 36-10 in the second quarter, and NYU held a 41-22 advantage at halftime.

Smith trimmed the margin to 16 in the third quarter, but NYU responded with a 10-1 run to halt the momentum. The Violets led 63-36 after three quarters and built their largest lead of 35 in the final period.

Five NYU players scored in double figures. Senior Belle Pellecchia led with 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Graduate student Natalie Bruns recorded 16 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and four blocks. Jamie Behar and Brooke Batchelor each added 13 points, with Batchelor grabbing nine rebounds. Caroline Peper contributed 10 points, four assists and four steals.

NYU shot 51.9% from the field and held Smith to 32.1%. The Violets also held a 38-20 edge in points in the paint and scored 26 points off 14 Smith turnovers.

Smith (31-3) was led by Ally Landau with 17 points, four rebounds and three steals. Hannah Martin added 13 points and six rebounds, while Jane Loo contributed six points and three assists.

The win marked NYU’s 62nd consecutive victory, the eighth-longest in NCAA women’s basketball history at any level.