While the New Hampshire Wildcats’ record might be unimpressive at 9-19 and only 4-12 in conference play, they are capable of making a run. New Hampshire shoots pretty well beyond the arc (30 percent), and is a solid defensive team.

New Hampshire can stay in close games with its defensive play. Four Wildcats have over 20 steals this year (Whitney Edwards leads the team with 71), and Ray Williams blocked 13 shots. The Wildcats’ weakness is their conference-low field-goal shooting percentage, as well as their next-to-last ranking in offensive rebounds.

Head coach Sue Johnson said she uses the 2005 America East tournament as motivation for her team. That year, the eighth-seeded Boston Terriers knocked off top-seeded Hartford and advanced to the championship game, losing by only two points.

‘That’s what tournaments are all about,’ Johnson said. ‘Every team has the chance to win.’

New Hampshire has an all-conference caliber in senior forward Danielle Clark, who averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.0 rpg this season. Clark will lead New Hampshire against Albany on Thursday night in the 8-9 play-in game, with the winner set to face Hartford on Friday.