New York University (NYU) women’s basketball has long been a highly competitive program, but the past two seasons the Violets have ascended to an even higher level. Last season ended with the program’s second-ever Division III national championship and thus far this season is looking to be much the same. With a 12–0 record, NYU sits atop the NCAA Division III national rankings.
“It directly points to the culture that’s been established by previous teams and now sustained by the leadership of this current team,” said Meg Barber, in her seventh season as head coach. “We don’t coach a lot of effort in this program. It’s a very self-driven team, and they’re very ‘team first.’ This isn’t a program worried about individual accolades and points.”
NYU opened UAA conference action last Saturday with a 95–41 win over Brandeis University. It next takes on Emory University for a home game Friday evening.
NYU alumna Barber has amassed an impressive record since returning to her alma mater to lead women’s basketball. Every season under Barber’s leadership has been a winning season, and the Violets returned from not playing in 2020-21 due to the pandemic, to go 25-2 in the 2021-22 season. The team is currently on a 43-game winning streak.
“The success and the way we lead our basketball program really coincides with the type of institution that NYU is,” said Barber. “In terms of the recruiting process, we look for highly motivated, competitive self-starters. … The type of institution we are enhances the job we have as basketball coaches.”
When Barber came on board in 2018, she knew she and her assistant coaches were setting a foundation, which wasn’t easy because NYU didn’t have a facility at the time. She credits those early classes that believed in a vision. This year’s team includes freshmen, graduate students and all years in between.
“We’ve always put the team ahead of self in terms of players playing unselfishly, but this group is very close,” said Barber. “We have a lot of fun on the court together both in practice and games. The younger players are really benefiting from being able to practice every day and watch how Belle Pellecchia, Natalie Bruns and Jamie Behar approach work and they are able to challenge themselves against them every day. We are a very deep and balanced team.”