Game On: Women's Basketball Region IV Championship Preview
On Saturday, the Bryant & Stratton College women's basketball team will embark on the chance of a second NJCAA Division II Region IV title in two years...
WAUWATOSA, WI (March 4, 2019) - On Saturday, the Bryant & Stratton College women's basketball team will embark on the chance of a second NJCAA Division II Region IV title in two years.
The #1 seeded Bobcats (21-10) will take on the #2 seeded South Suburban College Bulldogs (27-5) for the regional championship at the host, Waubonsee Community College, on Saturday, March 9. Tip-off will take place at 12:00pm CT.
This will be the first time the Bobcats and Bulldogs square off this season. The winner will advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament on March 19-23 in Harrison, AK where the top 16 teams in the country compete for a national title.
Bryant & Stratton won the regional championship last season over McHenry County College 81-70 to advance to the national tournament.
"We are in a great position," Bobcats head coach Jeff Lorenz said. "You always want to play your best basketball in March and we have been doing that thus far."
Bryant & Stratton has won their last five contests by double figures.
"South Suburban will be a great challenge though," Lorenz said.
The Bulldgos have been on a role lately winning their last six contests by a margin of 36 points.
"We will prepare all week for what will be a high-paced game and leave it all out there on the floor."
The Bulldogs, Danisha Maggette and Yasmarella Thompson, will be forces to reckon with as both players earned First Team All-Region this season. Magette averages 15.4 points per game on 44.1% shooting from the field while Thompson drops 11.4 ppg and just under five rebounds.
"They have some talented players," Lorenz said. "We will need to lock down defensively."
Despite the talent of South Suburban, the Bobcats have some high-level players of their own as freshman guard Kiyanna Rodgers and sophomore forward Maddy McCoy each earned First Team All-Region this season. Rodgers averages 11.5 ppg on 43.7% shooting while McCoy averages just under 10 points and eight rebounds per game.
Freshman guard Taynique Hawthorne, who is coming off of a game-high 26 point game in the semi-finals, will play a vital role in the Bobcats success.
"Every single one of the girls will need to step up," Lorenz said. "This is a collective effort and we will fight as a team."
The match is anticipated on being a high-scoring game as the both teams average over 74 ppg.
"Both teams are goin to get out and run," Lorenz said. "This should be fun."
Needless to say, Bryant & Stratton will look to fend off the Bulldogs and defend their regional crown by becoming back-to-back regional champions.
Spectators can view the game live HERE.