The Athens Review
ATHENS — District A (Region 1) - Central Arizona College, Coolidge, AZ (29-2)
After capping off a perfect 35-0 season in 2009 with a national championship, Central Arizona College once again finds themselves in the national tournament for the 19th time since 1991. They have been an absolutely dominating force in NJCAA Division I basketball over the past 20 years. This year, to punch their ticket, the Vaqueros defeated Arizona Western College by a score of 64-33. They enter in with an overall record of 29-2 and look to finish as back-to-back national champions. They are led in scoring by 5'7" sophomore Olivia Major who averages 20 points per game, and has a supporting cast that includes three teammates averaging in double figures.
District B (Region 2) - Northern Oklahoma College, Enid, OK (32-1)
Northern Oklahoma College-Enid is welcomed into the tournament for the first time in school history with hopes of making their first trip a successful one. They finished the regular season in the No. 6 spot in the NJCAA Top 10 and thus far, the Jets have a 32-1 record. Northern Oklahoma College-Enid is heading into the tournament after defeating Arkansas Baptist College by a score of 88-84. They come in with an offense that is spread out and can rain in points from anywhere on the floor as they have five players averaging in double-figures for scoring.
District C (Region 3,12,15,20) - Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY (20-5)
Monroe Community College enters into the tournament with a 20-5 record. The Tribunes defeated Vincennes University 83-69, to advance to the national tournament. This is the Tribunes fourth straight trip to the tournament and they have their sight set on winning a second National Championship. Their first title came in 2006. They come in with an offense that averages 78 points per game and a defense that allows just 57 points per game.
District D (Region 4,13) - Williston State College, Williston, ND (17-14)
Williston State College enters into their first ever national tournament at the expense of Highland CC by defeating them in an overtime thriller with a final score of 71-66. The Tetons currently hold a record that's three games above .500 at 17-14. Christine Miller is their offensive leader after averaging just less than 17 points per game and eight rebounds per game.
District E (Region 5) - Midland College, Midland, TX (30-3)
For the 5th time since 1999, Midland College is back in the national tournament. The Chaparrals defeated South Plains College 68-59 to secure their spot. Midland finished the season as the No. 4 team in the country according to the NJCAA Top 10 poll and they are ready to climb that mountain and try and achieve the goal of winning a national championship. With just one player averaging in double figures for scoring, the Chaparrals spread the ball around well and can frustrate defenses.
District F (Region 6) - Labette CC, Parsons, KS (31-3)
Labette CC is in uncharted waters. With a current record of 31-3 the Cardinals have made it to their first ever national tournament with the chance to be the first women's sports team from Labette to bring home a national championship. Labette defeated year-long top 20 team Seward County CC 54-49, to advance to the tournament. The Cardinals have many role players as their scoring leader is 5'10" freshman Satoria Bell with 19 points per game, 6'1" sophomore Kellindra Zackery leading in rebounds averaging 9 per game, and 5'7" freshman Jasmine Smith who has 97 assists this year.
District G (Region 7) - Walters State Community College, Morristown, TN (25-2)
The Senators of Walters State CC are in the national tournament for the eighth time since 1992 and the fourth consecutive year. The Senators have the opportunity to bring home the first ever women's sports national championship in school history. They are here with a 25-2 record, with their last win coming against Volunteer State Community College 62-48. Volunteer State was one of two teams to beat Walters State during the regular season but they came up short in the Region 7 championship game. The Senators have a diverse offensive look as many of their player's average significant amounts of points per game including leading scorer, sophomore Patrice Talley who averages 11.5 points per contest.
District H (Region 8) - Gulf Coast Community College, Panama City, FL (28-1)
Gulf Coast Community College makes their seventh overall tournament appearance and tries to capture a third National Championship in the last eight years. Most recently, the Commodores defeated Tallahassee CC in a close contest with a score of 54-51. Gulf Coast has handled their opponents all year with the exception of one game against the No. 3 team at the time, Pensacola JC, where the No. 1 Commodores were upset 68-64. Gulf Coast is led offensively by 5'8" sophomore Andrea Smith, who averages 17 points per game.
District I (Region 9) - Casper College, Wyo. (31-3)
Casper College makes their seventh appearance in the national tournament since 1992 after defeating Otero Junior College (Colo.), 72-56, in the Region 9 championship. The Thunderbirds broke into the NJCAA Top 25 in early January but were never able to get past the No. 16 spot. They have an offense that averages 77 points per game and three players that average in double figures. Freshman Lindsey Fearing is a real threat from outside as she shoots 44 percent from beyond the arc.
District J (Region 10,17) - South Georgia Technical College, Americus, GA (27-6)
South Georgia Technical College advances to the national tournament for the first time after defeating Guilford Tech 64-52. The Jets offense has the ability to put up points as they average 71 points per game, but it's their stingy defense that is impressive as they only allow an average of 49 points per game. The Jets offense is led by 5'10" sophomore Deatric Smith who averages 17 points per game, and 5'10" freshman Ophelia McMath with 15.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.
District K (Region 11,16) - Jefferson College, Hillsboro, MO (29-1)
Jefferson College finished the regular season in the NJCAA Top 10 Poll in the No. 1 spot. The Vikings defeated State Fair CC 89-75 to advance to the national tournament. Making their sixth appearance in the national tournament since 1991, and their fourth consecutive trip, the Vikings are looking to bring home the first national championship for women's sports in school history and avenge the bitter loss they suffered to Central Arizona College in the national championship game last year. In early November, Jefferson had a hiccup against Tallahassee when they took their first and only loss of the season by a score of 64-44. Jefferson's offense has steamrolled over their opponents all year averaging 80 points per game with five players in double figures.
District L (Region 14) - Trinity Valley Community College, Texas (28-5)
Trinity Valley Community College finished the regular season holding on to the No. 9 spot in the NJCAA Top 10 Poll. To advance, and make their 12th appearance in the national tournament since 1994, they defeated Tyler Junior College in the Region 14 championship by a score of 88-71. Their offense boasts five players who average in double figures. They are led by 6'2" sophomore Gloria Brown who averages a double-double with 19 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
District M (Region 18) - North Idaho College, Coeur d'Alene, ID (26-6)
North Idaho College broke into the NJCAA Top 20 Poll in early November and finished the season holding on to the No. 16 spot. In just their third national tournament appearance in school history (1997, 1999), the Cardinals enter after defeating Salt Lake Community College by a score of 86-76. Their offense is led by the 6'2" freshman from Izmir, Turkey, Tugce Canitez who averages 15 points and 9 rebounds per game. Support comes from Coeur d'Alene native, 5'11" freshman Kama Griffitts who averages 14 points per game
District N (Region 22) - Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL (19-12)
Shelton State Community College makes its fifth consecutive appearance in the tournament after defeating Northwest Shoals Community College (Ala.) in a close game with a final score of 66-63. The Buccaneers enter as a relatively unknown into this year's tournament after not being able to break into the polls during the season. They have three players averaging in double figures in scoring and a three point threat in 6' sophomore Alex Salomonsky who is shooting 42 percent from that range.
District O (Region 23) - Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Wesson, MS (28-1)
Copiah-Lincoln Community College finished the regular season in the No. 3 spot nationally. This is their fifth trip to the tournament since 1993, and they are looking to prove why they are a top contender for the national championship. To get to the tournament, Copiah-Lincoln went through Baton Rouge in the Region 23 championship. They are led offensively by 5'8" sophomore Latoria Holder who averages 17 points and 4 assists per game.
District P (Region 24) - Lincoln Trail College, Robinson, IL (28-3)
Lincoln Trail College makes its first appearance in the NJCAA Division 1 National Tournament this season after defeating Southeastern Illinois College 73-69, in the Region 24 Championship. The Statesmen have been a mainstay in the Top 25 this year but have never been higher than No. 14. Their offense is led by 5'6" sophomore Lateidra Elliott who averages 18 points and 6 assists per game. 5'10" freshman Brittany Fisher is third on the team in scoring with 11 points and leads the team in rebounds with 5.8 per game. Lincoln's offense has averaged almost 20 points more than their opponents this season.
2010 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship Seeds
Seed #1 - District K: Jefferson College, Mo. (29-1)
Seed #2 - District H: Gulf Coast Community College, Fla. (28-1)
Seed #3 - District E: Midland College, Texas (30-3)
Seed #4 - District A: Central Arizona College (29-2)
Seed #5 - District O: Copiah Lincoln Community College, Miss. (28-1)
Seed #6 - District B: Northern Oklahoma College - Enid (31-1)
Seed #7 - District M: North Idaho College (26-6)
Seed #8 - District L: Trinity Valley Community College, Texas (28-5)
Seed #9 - District G: Walters State Community College, Tenn. (25-2)
Seed #10 - District C: Monroe Community College, N.Y. (20-5)
Seed #11 - District F: Labette Community College, Kan. (31-3)
Seed #12 - District I: Casper College, Wyo. (31-3)
Seed #13 - District P: Lincoln Trail College, IL (28-3)
Seed #14 - District N: Shelton State Community College, Ala. (19-12)
Seed #15 - District J: South Georgia Technical College (28-5)
Seed #16 - District D: Williston State College, ND (17-14)
March 16, 2010 - First Round Pairings
Game 1 (10:00 AM) - Midland College vs. Shelton State Community College
Game 2 (6:15 PM) - Northern Oklahoma College-Enid vs. Labette Community College
Game 3 (Noon) - North Idaho College vs. Monroe Community College
Game 4 (2:00 PM) - Gulf Coast Community College vs. South Georgia Technical College
Game 5 (4:00 PM) - Jefferson College vs. Williston State College
Game 6 (8:15 PM) - Trinity Valley Community College vs. Walters State Community College
March 17, 2010
Game 7 (Noon) - Copiah-Lincoln Community College vs. Casper College
Game 8 (2:00 PM) - Central Arizona College vs. Lincoln Trail College
