W-Basketball: Defending National Champions bow out in Region Championship
The best women's basketball program in all of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) over the past five years bowed out in the region championship game on Sunday. #1 seed Rock Valley made a great comeback but came up short against #2 seed Madison College falling 57-53.
The defending champion Golden Eagles had won three of the last four national championships and the last five region championships. RVC finishes their season with 23-8 record and an N4C conference championship.
Rock Valley was in a rebuilding year this year and, typical of a
Misty Opat team, they improved the entire season and maximized their ability. This year's RVC squad featured 10 freshman as the Golden Eagles looked to replace 80% of their scoring off of last year's national championship team. RVC made their mark on the defensive end all season holding their opponents to 34.5% from the field on the season, good for 13th overall in NJCAA DIII. They protected the arch limiting opponents to a chilly 23.6% from 3PT ranking them 7th in the nation. Additionally, Rock Valley out-rebounded their opponents by an average of 10.3 RPG.
(RVC Sophomores
Brianna Davis,
Asia Jones,
Auri Hampton Katreelah Steward,
Hayley Anderson - RVC Athletics)
"I want to thank our sophomores
Brianna Davis,
Asia Jones,
Auri Hampton,
Katreelah Steward, and
Hayley Anderson. Even though we came up short this season these ladies will always be national champions as a result of last year. Additionally, they have grown into great young women who are prepared for the 4-year level and the real world. We are very fortunate to have had these ladies in the program," head coach
Misty Opat said.
(
Misty Opat,
Tierra McGowan,
Jaycee Cleaver,
Creighton Fed)
The Golden Eagles will return a great crop of freshman to next years squad which includes stars
Tierra McGowan,
Jaycee Cleaver and
Creighton Fed. McGowan averaged nearly a double-double this season posting 9.6 PPG and 10.8 RPG. Cleaver was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the country this season hitting 40.4% of her attempts ranking her 5th in the nation and making 59 three's, good for 22nd in the country. Cleaver averaged nearly 10 points per game this season for Rock Valley. Fed averaged 8.8 PPG and improved throughout the entire season showcasing her ability to put the ball on the floor and finish at the rim.
"We have some nice pieces returning," Opat stated. "We will recruit hard to find some talented ladies to compliment our core of returners."
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