BRUNSWICK

The talk is over, the teams have prepared all that they can, and tonight four squads will put it all on the line when the NCAA Division III women’s basketball “Final Four” begins in Rochester, Minnesota.

In the opening game at 6 p.m., defending national champion and top-ranked Amherst, riding an impressive 64-game winning streak, takes on No. 3 Thomas More, followed at 8:30 p.m. by undefeated and second-ranked Wartburg meeting Bowdoin.

The winners come back on Saturday to play for the national title at 8:30 p.m.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Bowdoin coach Adrienne Shibles in her 10th year of leading the Polar Bears.

Here is a look at the four “Final Four” squads:

Bowdoin (28-2)

The Polar Bears avenged a loss in the NESCAC semifinals with a 66-48 victory over Tufts in the “Elite 8” at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania last weekend.

This is Bowdoin’s second all-time “Final Four” appearance. Former Polar Bear coach Stefanie Pemper, who now coaches at the Naval Academy, led Bowdoin to a 26-0 regular season mark in the 2003/04 season. After wins over Salve Regina, the University of Southern Maine and Scranton, the Polar Bears defeated Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 64-59, in the “Final Four.”

In the title game, Bowdoin fell to Wilmington (Ohio), 59- 53, to finish second in the nation.

Bowdoin was led by Lora Trenkle’s 13.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists, while Eileen Flaherty, Justine Pouravelis, Erika Nickerson, Allison Smith and Vanessa Russell were key components. The Polar Bears averaged 66.4 points a game and allowed 46.4.

This season, Bowdoin possesses a quick-strike offense that averages 80.6 points a contest, while allowing 47.4.

Seniors Kate Kerrigan (10.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.6 steals), Lydia Caputi (5.6 points, 3.7 rebounds) and Lauren Petit (8.0 points) have been solid leaders and captains for the Polar Bears, while Abby Kelly (11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists), Taylor Choate (9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals), Maddie Hassan (7.0 points, 2.9 rebounds), Hannah Graham (6.3 points) and Cordelia Stewart (5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds) have been steady contributors, along with Sam Roy, Annie Maher, Fallon Field, Moria Train, Dorian Cohen and Olivia Ware. Shibles uses her bench a ton, giving each player a chance to shine.

“I am incredibly proud of the team,” said Shibles. “They are great basketball players, but even more importantly great people. It is great for them to achieve this success.”

Wartburg (31-0)

It has been said before. For the Polar Bears to find success against undefeated Wartburg, Bowdoin will need to defend, rebound and hit its open shots.

“They are one of the final four teams and everyone is good,” said Shibles, who discussed the talented Knights. “They have a lot of seniors, all five starters are seniors, and they have been to the ‘Final Four.’ They play an up-tempo game and can shoot from anywhere.”

Wartburg swept through its Iowa Athletic Conference schedule with a perfect 16-0 record. In the conference tournament, the Knights defeated Loras, 63-46, then pulled away from Luthor, 86- 74.

In the NCAA Tournament, wins over Webster (86- 45) and George Fox (82-58) in the opening two rounds were followed by victories against Trine (78-54) and East Texas Baptist (65-61).

The Knights have five All- Conference MVPs, led by senior Katie Sommer, who averages 14.8 points a game along with 4.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals and an impressive six assists per contest. Classmates Miranda Murphy (11.5 points), Morgan Neuendorf (11.4), Kristie Sommer (8.8) and Aryn Jones (9.2 points, five rebounds) are dangerous. Twin sisters Katie and Kristie Sommer, along with Murphy and Neuendorf, have surpassed 1,000 career points at Wartburg, which averages 77.4 points a game while allowing just 56.6. The Knights have drained 262 treys heading into tonight’s contest.

“We are going to need high hands to defend them,” said Bowdoin junior forward Hannah Graham. “They have twin sisters that can really shoot the deep ball, and they are strong across the board.”

Amherst (31-0)

The Mammoths have been the top team in Division III for a couple of years now, winning last season’s national title. The team’s 64- game winning streak is second in NCAA D-III history behind the 81- game run by Washington-St. Louis (1998-2001).

Amherst won the NESCAC title with a 44-40 victory over Tufts, then rolled through the opening two rounds of the tournament. After an easy 61-12 romp over Becker, the Mammoths were pushed a bit by Saint Joseph’s University before prevailing, 53-47. Amherst followed with a “Sweet 16” win over Montclair State, 51-40, and an “Elite 8” victory over Rochester, 62-38.

The Mammoths feature the top defense in Division III, permitting a measly 38.3 points per game, nine points better than the second-place defensive squad in the nation.

Amherst handed Bowdoin one of its two losses, 49-45, on Jan. 27. The Mammoths are making their 18th tournament appearance, including reaching the “Sweet 16” in 11 straight campaigns. Madeline Eck (12 points) and Hannah Fox (11.4) are the only two Mammoths averaging in double figures as Amherst scores 60.8 points a contest. Emma McCarthy (9.5), Hannah Hackley (8.6) and Jackie Nagle (6.7) are also scorers for the Mammoths.

Amherst is a strong rebounding team, with six players having pulled down over 100 caroms this season. McCarthy averages 7.1 boards a contest, followed by Fox (5.5), Eck (5.2) and Cam Hendricks (4.8).

Thomas More (30-1)

The Saints captured the Presidents Athletic Conference, rolling through the conference undefeated and defeating Washington & Jefferson in the title game, 93- 51.

Thomas More’s only loss came in the Rochester Tip Off Classic in New York in the second game of the season, a 61-58 loss to host Rochester. The Saints enter tonight’s matchup with Amherst riding a 29-game winning streak.

Thomas More can certainly score and defend, averaging 86.2 points a contest and permitting 51 points a game.

Madison Temple has scored 18.1 points a game this season, followed by solid shooters Abby Owings (14.9), Nikki Kieman (11.4) and Emily Schultz (9.5). Temple has pulled down a team-high 216 rebounds (seven a game) and leads in steals (71) and assists (167).

In the NCAA Tournament, the Saints rolled past Oglethorpe (84-58) and Juniata (83-50) in the first two rounds. Thomas More went to Michigan on the campus of Hope to win its next two games. After slipping past Gustavus Adolphus, 75-67, in the “Sweet 16,” the Saints knocked off the hosts with a dominating 72-57 victory.

Like Bowdoin, the Saints are making their second national semifinal appearance.

NOTE — The NCAA will provide a live broadcast of all games from the championship site at NCAA.com/liveschedule. Live statistics will also be available. Follow @GoUBears and @Bowdoin- WBB and the hashtag #d3basketball on Twitter to follow all the action live from Rochester.