Second Straight Season: Bobcats Move On to Region IV Championship Game
For the second straight year, the #1 seeded Bryant & Stratton College women's basketball team advanced to the NJCAA Region IV Division II championship game after defeating the Trition College Trojans (#4 seed) 71-61 in the semi-final game on Saturday afternoon.
WAUWATOSA, WI (March 2, 2019) - For the second straight year, the #1 seeded Bryant & Stratton College women's basketball team advanced to the NJCAA Region IV Division II championship game after defeating the Trition College Trojans (#4 seed) 71-61 in the semi-final game on Saturday afternoon.
The win improved the Bobcats to 21-10 and marks as their fifth consecutive victory,
Leading the way for the Bobcats was freshman guard Taynique Hawthorne dropping 26 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists while shooting 8-16 from the field.
Sophomore forward Maddy McCoy finished the game with 19 points, six rebounds, six steals, two blocks and two assists. McCoy shot 8-10 from the field.
Freshman guard Kiyanna Rodgers added 11 points, four rebounds and three assists.
This is the second straight year the Bobcats have reached the regional championship game.
"I am extremely proud of how we executed in the second half tonight," Bobcats head coach Jeff Lorenz said. "They dominated us in the first half but we turned it around in the third quarter which was great to see."
A slugglish first half, the Bobcats trailed by 16 (40-24) to start the third quarter but retaliaed quickly in the second half outscoring the Trojans 24-9.
"Our defense picked up tremendously," Lorenz said. "We were active in the passing lanes and making smart decisions."
Leading 50-49 to start the fourth, Bryant & Stratton continued to pile on the points as they led by double figures with just over a minute left to play.
"In a semi-final game it is not easy to come back from being down 16 points at halftime," Lorenz said. "I am extremely proud of our perseverance today."
The Bobcats shot 45.6 percent from the field and just 27.3% from distance.
Last season (2017-18) was the first year of post season elibility for Bryant & Stratton. They defeated McHenry County College in the region iv championship game to advance to the National Tournament in Harrison, Arkansas where they suffered an opening round loss.
UP NEXT:
Bryant & Stratton will take on the number 2 seeded South Suburban Bulldogs (26-5) in the Region IV Championship game next Saturday at Waubonsee CC.
Tip-off will take place at 12:00pm.
This will be the first time the Bobcats and Bulldogs square off this season.
Spectators can view the game live on the LIVE.