NORTHAMPTON — The Smith College women’s basketball team once again earned the right to host the first two rounds of the NCAA Division 3 Women’s Basketball tournament following its fifth straight NEWMAC tourney championship. The Pioneers have hosted Round of 64 and Round of 32 games for the past three seasons, so this winter makes it four in a row.

In Smith’s pod is SUNY Cobleskill, its first-round opponent, along with Vassar and fellow Hampshire County school, Amherst. Both Round of 64 games are slated for Friday night at Ainsworth Gymnasium, with the Mammoths opening things up against Vassar at 4:15 p.m., and the Pioneers playing in the nightcap at 6:45 p.m.

If the two Pioneer Valley teams can find a way to take care of business on Friday, that would set up a heavyweight matchup on Saturday between two of the most successful Division 3 programs of the 21st century for a spot in the Sweet 16.

Let’s take a look at how each team is constructed and the keys to picking up a first-round victory.

Amherst College

There certainly was no guarantee that the Mammoths would earn a spot in the field following their 58-49 loss to Bowdoin in the NESCAC semifinals, as the defeat dropped their record to 19-7. A year ago, Amherst missed out on the Division 3 dance with a 19-6 record. But a five-game winning streak prior to losing to the undefeated Polar Bears was enough to earn an at-large bid. Amherst is one of five NESCAC schools in the national tournament this season.

Laura Mendell leads the Mammoths in points per game (13.8) and is second in total assists. Mendell, a junior, missed over a month in the middle of the season but is back in the lineup and averaged 18.4 points per game over Amherst’s final five games of the regular season. Kori Barach is second on the team in 3s made behind long-ball specialist Annie McCarthy, and Barach can score, rebound and be a playmaker for the Mammoths offense. She’s a true Swiss-Army knife on the floor.

Forward Maya Cwalina is the only Amherst player to start all 26 games this season, and she’s recorded 87 of the Mammoth’s 146 blocked shots (59 percent). Cwalina must be an intimidating presence in the paint on both ends of the court for Amherst to make a deep run in the tournament.

Amherst only gives up 51.4 points per game to its opponents, which is nothing new under head coach and South Deerfield native G.P. Gromacki. Vassar scores about 70 points per game on average, and comes in at 21-6 as winners of the Liberty League. Vassar is 0-2 on at neutral sites this season.

Smith College

The NEWMAC champions went a perfect 14-0 in the conference including three wins in the tournament – capped off with a 79-66 win over MIT. Smith cruised through the NEWMAC with only one non-double-digit regular season win to give them the privilege of hosting in the big dance. The Pioneers (26-2) are boasting a seven-game winning streak entering their matchup with SUNY-Cobleskill.

Four players average at least nine points per game for head coach Lynn Hersey’s squad, led by 14.5 points a night from graduate transfer Ally Landau. The former Haverford star has fit like a glove in Smith’s system, as she’s an aggressive defender who loves to push the ball up the floor and facilitate the potent Pioneers’ attack. She averages 5.5 rebounds and team-highs in assists (3.6), 3-point percentage (45 percent, min. 30 attempts) and steals (2.4) this year.

Reigning NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, Hannah Martin, has taken a leap as a sophomore. She was one of the best guards in the conference as a freshman, and has now emerged as one of the best two-way threats in the country alongside Landau. Martin uses her long arms and great instincts to make life difficult on opposing guards, and can get to the hoop at will on the offensive end. Throw in the ever-consistent and steady senior Jane Loo (9.7 points per game), who shoots the ball at a high clip from everywhere, and Smith has a trio of guards with a ton of big-game experience. Those three are the key for the Pioneers.

Junior Ella Sylvester and senior Jazmyn Washington hold down the frontcourt. The tandem is rather undersized, but they more than make up for it with their energy, effort and high basketball IQ. Their interior passing to one another has become a weapon throughout the season. Hersey has shown she isn’t afraid to dig into her bench, either, and Smith has plenty of options to come in and contribute – whether it be Uta Nakamura, Virginia Johnson, Maggie Fleming or Kate Hackney, among others.

Like Amherst, Smith also has a top defensive team in the country. If the Pioneers get stops, they should have no problem with SUNY-Cobleskill on Friday.