Opening-round tournament games at home and rankings in the top five of NCAA Division III women’s basketball became rites of almost-spring for Bowdoin College and the University of Southern Maine in this decade of dominance.

To fulfill traditional expectations this postseason, the Polar Bears and Huskies probably will have to make their entire journey on the road.

There’s no question that the first two steps will take place in a hostile or at least neutral environment. When Southern Maine and Bowdoin begin tournament play this evening, they’ll be on the road in New Jersey and Massachusetts, respectively.

USM (25-3) will face Brandeis (18-7) at Kean University in Union, N.J., at 5:30 p.m. Bowdoin (18-8) tips off at 8 p.m. in a road contest at Bridgewater State (22-4).

Second-round games are scheduled for Saturday. The Huskies likely would face host Kean (25-3), while conference rival Amherst (25-2) could await Bowdoin.

Bowdoin’s men also earned their first tournament berth in nine years. The Polar Bears (21-6) take on Curry College (18-10) at 6 p.m., with host Brandeis and Lasell to follow.

Southern Maine’s chance to host a sub-regional might have slipped away with a 65-60 overtime loss to Eastern Connecticut State in the Little East Conference championship game last weekend. It snapped a streak of 11 straight league tournament championships for the Huskies.

Forwards Stacey Kent (14.3 points, 5.9 rebounds per game) and Josalee Danieli of New Gloucester (9.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg) lead a balanced team with a strong low post presence. Angela Santa Fe (8.1) and Shannon Kynoch (7.4) also provide scoring punch for the Huskies.

USM makes its 14th consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament and its 22nd in the last 23 years.

Brandeis checks in for the third straight year on the shoulders of senior guard Jaime Capra (14.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg). Lauren Orlando (11.4) and Jessica Chapin (10.6) have double-digit potential for the Judges.

Bowdoin stumbles into the tournament having lost three of its last four games after a 12-1 midseason run. The Polar Bears entered last week’s New England Small College Athletic Conference tournament with an all-time 21-0 mark and seven straight titles before being routed by Amherst, 71-47, in the semifinals.

Eight different players have spent time in the starting lineup this season for the new-look Polar Bears. Alexa Kaubris of Rumford (11.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg. 48 steals) and Jill Anelauskas (12.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are the statistical leaders. Maria Noucas (8.2 ppg) is the only other Bowdoin player with extensive tournament experience.

The sister tandem of center Colleen Feeney and guard Caitlin Feeney leads Bridgewater State. Colleen was the MASCAC player of the year with 20.8 points and 12.9 rebounds per game. Both Feeneys broke the 1,000-point career threshold this winter.

Two programs will try to extend their single-season school record for victories when Bowdoin and Curry meet on the men’s side.

Bowdoin cemented its at-large berth with a 65-64 upset of host Amherst in the NESCAC semifinals before dropping a 74-55 verdict to Trinity. Four Polar Bears averaged more than 10 points per game, led by senior guard and primary 3-point threat Andrew Hippert.

Jordan Fliegel (6-foot-6) and Andrew Sargeantson (6-4) will be challenged underneath the basket at both ends by the Colonels’ 6-10 center, Johnathan Bowers. The senior from Michigan led Curry with 18 points and 10 rebounds per game along with 79 total blocked shots.

Curry rides an 11-game winning streak and a Commonwealth Coast Conference championship into the tournament. Bowdoin will try to improve to 3-0 all-time in first-round games after victories over Springfield in 1996 and Bridgewater State in 1999.