Lady Tribunes reign once again.
SALINA, Kansas - It seems that fate was on the side of the Monroe Community College women's basketball team at the NJCAA Division I women's basketball national tournament.
Whether it was a clutch free throw, a key steal, or a crucial 3-pointer, the fifth-seeded Tribunes came through when a big play was needed the most. It was no different in the championship game Sunday afternoon against undefeated Odessa College (Texas), as the Tribunes survived a late rally to defeat the Lady Wranglers 76-64 for Monroe's third straight national title and first at the Division I level.
MCC won despite shooting just 32 percent from the field as well as letting third-seeded Odessa turn an 18-point first-half deficit into a one-point game with about four minutes remaining. The Tribunes turned once again to Maurita Reid down the stretch and the sophomore guard didn't disappoint, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points in the final minutes to secure the victory.
The tournament's Most Valuable Player, Reid finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six steals. She was coming off a 35-point performance in Friday's semifinal win over another undefeated team, top-seeded Central Arizona.
Odessa enjoyed it's only lead of the game in the opening minutes as the Wranglers took a 5-2 lead. MCC responded with a 14-2 run, fueled by eight points off the bench from Holly Mahan, to take a 16-9 lead. After a 3 by Odessa's Chandrea Jones, the Tribunes went on another run, this one 10-2, to take a 12-point lead. Niki Avery and Jenn Jones sparked the flurry, with Avery hitting two 3's and Jones converting offensive rebounds into layups on two straight possessions.
Avery stayed hot toward the end of the half, hitting another trifecta and adding a layup off a nice dish from Reid to help MCC take a 35-20 lead into the intermission.
The teams traded baskets during the first 10 minutes of the second half. Odessa tried its best to fight back into it, but the Tribunes had an answer for every Wrangler move. Avery canned two more 3's and Trenise Fuller added a pair of baskets off offensive boards as Monroe stayed in control.
Odessa continued to battle, however, and the Wranglers' hard work paid off as the clock ran down. A 9-0 run brought Odessa to within two points before Lynnise Nixon hit consecutive buckets for MCC to restore a six-point advantage. The Wranglers kept up the pressure and scored the next five points to cut the lead to 59-58.
That's when Reid took over. Bottled up by Odessa in the first half, the sophomore from Queens started a Monroe rally with a 22-foot 3-pointer that gave the Tribunes a four-point lead. After a Wrangler basket, Reid connected from long range again, this time from about 27 feet away. Jenn Jones chipped in with a 3 before Reid finished the flurry with another trey and a short jumper to build the lead to nine. Jones and Avery added free throws and the Tribunes ran out the clock on yet another national title.
Avery finished with 19 points, including five 3-pointers for MCC. Fuller had 14 points and eight rebounds while Jones added 12 points and 12 boards. Mahan and Nixon added valuable minutes off the bench, combining for 13 points and 12 rebounds. Jones and Fuller were named to the All-Tournament Team, and head coach Tim Parrinello was named the Coach of the Tournament. The Tribunes also received the Sportsmanship Award, voted on by coaches and officials.
MCC outrebounded Odessa 55-42 on the game, including an incredible 29-14 advantage on the offensive glass. The Tribunes finished with 12 3-pointers compared to just four for the Wranglers.
Chandrea Jones led Odessa (34-1) with 22 points. Dina Piterniece had 17 and Ashley Ingle contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds.
In winning, the Tribunes (31-1) became the first team in women's junior college history to win a national title at the Division I level after winning the year before in Division II. MCC has now won four women's basketball national championships in its illustrious history.
Tom Garigen
Athletics
03/28/2006 |