Massasoit Captures Regional Championship In Triple Overtime Classic

BOSTON ----- The Massasoit Community College women's basketball team would not be denied its first-ever NJCAA Region XXI Championship, defeating Roxbury Community College, 98-95, in a triple-overtime instant classic contest on Sunday at Bunker Hill CC.

Massasoit (17-6), ranked eighth nationally in Division III, advances as one of eight teams to compete in the NJCAA National Tournament held in Rochester, Minn., from March 12-15.

"That was an out of body experience today because I don't even know how many overtimes we played," third year head coach Mark Brathwaite said. "This is huge for our program winning the first Region Championship. We got a total team effort, one through eight today."

After regulation the duo of Cynara Rustin (Brockton/Minutemen Regional) and Ashley Andrade (Randolph), both sophomores, took over for Massasoit, scoring 33 of the team's 43 points over the three overtime periods, including the last 14 points. Rustin scored 22 of her career-high 25 points after regulation.

"Cynara and Ashley took over in the third overtime," Brathwaite said. "Ashley is the is the heart and soul of the team and Cynara really came through for us with some big baskets late in the game."

The contest was close throughout its entirety between the top two teams in the region as neither squad would hold a lead by more than seven points and a total of 13 ties took place.

Down 55-53 in regulation, Fredi Lawson (Boston/J.E. Burke HS) buried a jumper with 13.7 seconds left to send the game into the first of three overtimes.

Lawson was not done, as she knocked down a deep 3-pointer from the wing with 31.2 seconds left to even the score at 66-all as the game would go to a second overtime.

In the second overtime, Massasoit was forced to play with four players as Lawson along with fellow starters Marina Palladino (Carver), Tiana McQueen (Mattapan/Boston English HS) and Tianna Johnson (Brockton/New Mission HS) all fouled out.

That would not stop the duo of Rustin and Andrade along with the assistance of Stephanie Goddard (Randolph) and Ari Gonsalves (Dorchester/Brighton HS). Andrade was the only remaining starter on the court for the Warriors.

Goddard stole a pass and went the length of the court and put in layup to give the Warriors a 78-76 lead with five seconds to go in the second overtime. On the ensuing Roxbury (10-10) possession, Massasoit was whistled for a foul and a technical foul. The Tigers had four free throw attempts, but only made two as the game would head to a third overtime knotted at 78.

Roxbury built up a 91-84 lead early in the third overtime, and appeared to have the game in hand.  But, two Tigers fouled out creating a 4 (Massasoit players) vs. 3 (Roxbury players) situation in favor of the Warriors.

Andrade and Rustin put the team on their backs as the duo scored the team's final 14 points. Rustin put in a lay up to break a 93-all tie as the Warriors would eventually hold on, survive, and advance with a historic three-point win.

"I will never forget that game," Andrade said. "It was the game of my life. It was all about the energy we brought today and we just didn't give up. It was an emotional roller coaster. We left it all the court today and we just pulled through at the end."

Lawson finished with a game-high 27 points and 16 rebounds for her 11th straight double-double. She also added eight steals. Andrade also added a double-double, with 17 points and 19 rebounds, while Rustin poured in a career-high 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

Johnson chipped in with 14 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and six steals in the victory.