New York University’s historic 91-game winning streak is over after a 60-52 loss to Scranton in the Final Four of the Division III NCAA Tournament on Thursday night, ending one of the longest unbeaten runs in college basketball history.

The Violets (29-1) had the second-longest winning streak in NCAA history, trailing only UConn’s 111-game run between 2014 and 2017, and were seeking a third consecutive national championship. Instead, Scranton (32-0) advanced to the title game, holding off a late NYU rally.

NYU’s last defeat had come on 11 March 2023, when they were beaten by Transylvania in the Elite Eight. In the three years since, the Violets had not lost, building a dominant program under head coach Meg Barber.

The streak was notable not only for its length but for where it happened. NYU compete in Division III, where athletic scholarships are not permitted, at a university better known for its academics than athletics. Until recently, the team played home games in borrowed gyms across New York City before moving into the John A Paulson Center in 2023.

Barber, a former NYU player, returned to her alma mater in 2018 and steadily built the Violets into a national power with a full-court defensive system and a fast-paced, unselfish offense.

“Heck of a ride, incredible journey,” Barber said. “I’m incredibly proud and I just want to go back to [give credit to] Scranton. I knew this was going to be a really tough matchup. They’re an incredible team on paper and we really parallel each other in so many ways and that’s a tough team to play. So good luck to them moving on and we’re going to look back on this season with a lot of pride.”

NYU entered Thursday’s semi-final having won their games this season by an average of more than 35 points, overwhelming opponents with depth, pressure defense and three-point shooting. They broke the Division III record for consecutive wins on 8 February with their 82nd straight victory, surpassing Washington University of St Louis.

But in what unfolded as an attritional battle with Scranton, the Violets struggled to gain a foothold.

NYU got off to a slow start and trailed 30-18 at half-time as Scranton dictated the tempo. The Violets cut the deficit to three early in the third quarter, but the Lady Royals responded each time they threatened.

Down 13 in the fourth quarter, NYU made one final push, closing to 56-52 with 46 seconds remaining. But they could get no closer as Scranton converted free throws down the stretch, including two by Meghan Lamanna to secure the win.

Senior Caroline Peper, the only player on NYU’s roster who had previously lost a college game, led the Violets with 19 points. The 22-year-old mathematics major was also the lone senior on the team.

“This team really means the world to me,” a tearful Peper said afterwards. “I couldn’t have picked a better team to go out with.”

Scranton’s composure proved decisive. The Lady Royals, also unbeaten this season, had already shown their quality with an exhibition win over Division I opponent Pittsburgh and carried that confidence into the semi-final.

The defeat ends a run that stretched nearly three full seasons and more than 1,100 days without a loss. During that time, NYU established themselves as the dominant program in Division III, winning back-to-back national titles and regularly dispatching opponents by wide margins.

Even UConn coach Geno Auriemma, whose program owns the only longer winning streak in NCAA history, had praised the achievement during NYU’s run, noting the difficulty of sustaining success over time regardless of level.

“Doing something exceptionally well and doing it every day you have to do it is way, way, way more difficult than people think,” Auriemma said earlier this month. “People say, ‘Well, it’s Division III.’ I don’t care if it’s Division 12. People say it’s the conference they play in. None of those things are relevant. First you have to go out and execute to the best of your ability. And second, with every win the number gets bigger and bigger, and you have to keep your mind on what got you there.”