AMHERST, N.Y. — The top ranked Division II team in the NCAA can be found in a Buffalo suburb. Daemen University has two teams currently dancing in regional brackets and the roster for the Wildcat women are unifying plenty of New Yorkers on the court. 

"It was really special," Daemen forward Cecilia Lapertosa said of the Wildcats' ECC title win on home court. "It's always fun to play at home. I love the environment here. I love that atmosphere, especially having the home crowd in the fans. It was exciting."

The East Coast Conference women's tournament belongs to the Wildcats of Daemen with four straight conference titles. Lapertosa, which hails from just outside Utica, has an idea why.

"We really encourage each other and support one another, especially through the ups and downs," she added. "I think that's what makes us so competitive. We want to win. We want to compete. But we also want to have fun with each other and grow together. And that's essentially what got us here."

They boast an entire roster of dedicated student athletes, some of whom are in their first NCAA campaign like Rochester's Ne'Vaeh Buntley.

"It's a big change. Honestly. These girls are bigger and stronger," said Buntley. "It's not like high school where, you know, you might be the best player, but there's a whole bunch of best players. As soon as you reached college."

The change of pace hasn't slowed down what she bring to the hardwood.

"I'm always encouraging and being tough on the court," she added. "Always trying to dive for loose balls or fight with another post in the post. I like being tough and that's what I bring to the team."

And at the helm is ECC women's coach of the year, Jenepher Banker.

"She knows how much potential we have and how good we can be," said Lapertosa. "And she really does her best to make sure she gets out all of us."

She's also got this team on track to go from the no. 2 seed in their leg of the bracket with the right mindset.

"We want to compete, but we also want to make sure that, you know, we don't take anything for granted," she added. "Everyone that's going to regionals is good, so we have to be just as good. We have to be on our best game and make sure that we're focused and ready to go."

Humble, disciplined and determined is a good mix for the Wildcats, but maybe not for their opponents along the way.

"We've come a long way. We've worked really hard for this and I think would be exciting," said Lapertosa. "We have so much potential here. We can do something special."

"They should know that we're coming," said Buntley. "We're going to play hard no matter what. We're going to keep going. So I think we just want to win."