The win was the 10th straight for the Saints. With the victory, they earned the right to host the Region III final four for the first time in school history, provided they can make it through the quarterfinal round of the playoffs in a matchup in which they will be heavily favored.

Talented sophomores Talesa Campbell and Kayla Carder paced NCCC, both knocking down a game-high 26 points on a night that saw the Saints drain a dozen three-pointers.

The Saints were on fire offensively in every quarter but the second, when they only scored nine points. But at the same time, NCCC played tough on the defensive end and only allowed the Vikings seven points in the period to take a 34-23 lead into halftime. At one point during the third period, Hudson Valley faced a 10-point deficit, but the hosts pulled away down the stretch to improve to 24-3 overall.

“We were really struggling from the three-point line, and even on the dribble and drive,” Campbell said describing the second quarter. “We came out in the second half, got a good warm up in and got right back to it and played our game. I feel like we’re a second half team sometimes.

LeShaun Smith secures a rebound for the Saints in front of Hudson Valley’s Zach Hilton during the first half of Monday’s game. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

“That third quarter, early fourth quarter is usually our game,” added Campbell, who drained seven three-pointers in the game. “We’re always going to run, we got a good run and went up by 30. This was team we saw before. We weren’t really worried about losing, just about coming out with intensity. I feel like we held them off better this time than the last time we played.”

The loss dropped Hudson Valley to 14-11 overall. North Country won the previous meeting between the teams 74-59 on Feb. 8 on the Vikings’ floor.

Alexandra Rifenburg led Hudson Valley with 15 points, and teammates Emily Erickson and Grace VanRoy tossed in 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Damoni Wells added 12 points in the win.

NCCC head coach Jerrad Dumont said his team was inconsistent early on but noted his players picked up their game down the stretch.

“We were up and down a little tonight,” Dumont said. “We made some mistakes that led to some fouls, and that was a little frustrating. I think that had to do with our intensity level and how we executed on offense. I thought our defense was great, but we have to score more than nine in a quarter. I think a lot of that comes from Talesa Campbell. When she picks it up, we pick it up as a team. I believe everybody follows her. She’s been good in every game we’ve needed her.”

With the win, the Saints also locked up the Mountain Valley Conference title. They are currently the fifth-ranked NJCAA Division III women’s team in the nation.

“We’re happy, but it’s just another accomplishment,” Campbell said. “We won the conference, that’s one thing, hosting the regionals, that’s another and then we want that national championship.”

The Saints women will head into the Region III postseason tournament as the top seed and earn a bye for the opening round. Their first playoff game will be at home on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with an opponent and time to be determined. Dumont expects the playoff seedings and schedule to be finalized by Thursday.

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MEN

Hudson Valley 78, North Country 65

North Country’s men weren’t able to match the success of the Saints women on Tuesday, as they dropped a 78-65 decision to Hudson Valley in the second game of their home doubleheader.

In a matchup that was tight most of the way, the Saints trailed 35-31 at halftime before the Vikings pulled away to improve to 21-7 overall and 11-4 in Region III play.

Brandon McKenly, the Vikings 6-7 freshman forward, finished tied for game-high scoring honors with 17 points, and Luke Bourgault added 11 in the victory. Ten players scored points for the Vikings.

Von Livingston paced the Saints with 17 points as the sophomore shared game-high scoring honors. Tarique Foggie added 13 points for North Country and Dom Wilson chipped in 10 points.

North Country’s men dropped to 14-11 overall and 8-6 in conference play with the loss.

The Saints men and women wrap up the regular season on the road Wednesday when they travel to take on Clinton Community College. The women take the court first starting at 5 p.m. with the men’s contest slated to begin at 7 p.m.