The Monroe Community College Women's Basketball Program will being making a fourth consecutive trip to the NJCAA Division II National Touranment after capturing the Region III Championship Sunday afternoon with an 89-54 win over Niagara County Community College.
The Tribunes advanced to the championship game with a 93-37 win over Mercyhurst University - North East. MCC used a fast start against MNE to gain control of their seminfal matchup as they held the Saints to two points in the opening quarter pulling out to a 19-2 lead after the first ten minutes of play. Monroe would extend the lead in the second quarter as they entered the locker room with a 45-10 advantage at half time. Lanay Rodney scored a game high 22 points for Monroe while Sierra Green added 15 and Samirah Henderson and Erica Abitante added 13 apiece. Shaquoia McCray led the Saints in scoring with 16.
In the second semifinal it was Jamestown who would build an early lead as they led Niagara 16-11 after one quarter of action. The Thunderwolves stepped up their defensive effort holding the Jayhawks to nine points in the second quarter as the teams entered halftime tied at 25. NCCC's defensive effect would hold up in the second half as JCC could manage only seven third quarter points while Niagara's offense would use a 19 point third quarter to build a 44-32 lead with ten minutes to play. The teams traded baskets to start the fourth quarter before NCCC would extend their lead with a 7-1 run in the middle of the quarter to secure the victory, 61-43. Neraelyn Trueheart would lead three Thunderwolves in scoring with 22 points while Emilee Sperry led the Jayhawks with 11 points.
In the championship, Monroe would use another strong defensive first quarter to build a comfortable 24-4 first quarter lead behind a trio of three-point baskets from Tournament MVP Sierra Green. Green would continue her hot shooting in the second quarter as she finished the half with 18 points on 6-8 shooting from three point range as the Tribunes finished the first half with a 49-23 lead. The first half deficit would prove to be too large for Niagara as Monroe would outscore NCCC 40-31 in the second half to earn the championship. Green finished with 21 points to lead all scores for MCC while teammates Rodney and Abitante each scored 14 points. Diamond Fedrick led Niagara with 14 points and 9 rebounds with Trueheart adding 13 points for the runners-up.
MCC's Torrie Cash, Lanay Rodney, and Erica Abitante joined Green as All-Tournament selections along with Niagara's Diamond Fedrick and Shilah Parker.