Massasoit Women's Basketball Earns Top Seed At Region XXI Tournament

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit Community College women's basketball team earned the top seed in the Region XXI Division III Tournament for the first time in program history and is set to to play fourth-seed and tournament-host Bunker Hill CC on Saturday at Noon.

If the Warriors defeat Bunker Hill, they would advance to play the winner of (2) Roxbury CC and (3) Bristol CC on Sunday at 1 p.m. The winner of the Region XXI Championship receives an automatic bid to the NJCAA National Tournament held in Rochester, Minn., from March 12-15.

Region XXI Tournament Schedule
Saturday -- Regional XXI Semifinals
(1) Massasoit CC vs. (4) Bunker Hill CC at 12 p.m.
(2) Roxbury CC vs. (3) Bristol CC at 2 p.m.

Sunday -- Region XXI Championship
at 1 p.m.

Massasoit Projected Starters
Record: 14-6
G Tianna Johnson (8.1 ppg/8.8 apg)
G Cynara Rustin (7.7 ppg)
G Marina Palladino (14.6 ppg)
F Ashley Andrade (14.7 ppg/6.8 rpg)
F Fredi Lawson (20.1 ppg/12.5 rpg)
Reserves
G Stephanie Goddard (2.8 ppg)
G Arianna Gonsalves (0.3 ppg)
F Tiana McQueen (9.0 ppg/7.8 rpg)

Bunker Hill Projected Starters
Record: 7-9
G Esther Joseph
G Kyshani Dummott
G Yohana Chrisyanto
F Victoria Perez-Gonzalez
F Kristina Glunta

Season Series: Massasoit leads, 2-0
Massasoit 85, Bunker Hill 56 (Brockton) Dec. 3
Massasoit  64, Bunker Hill 54 (Charlestown) Feb. 11

TOURNAMENT TID BITS
Two For One Deal
The winner of the Region XXI Tournament will also receive the Massachusetts Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) crown as well. This season, the Region XXI Connecticut squads did not have teams, meaning that the same participants would take part in both the state and region tournaments. The region decided to have just one tournament with the winner earning both titles.

Warriors In Search Of First Region XXI Title
Massasoit is in search of its first Region XXI title in program history. The Warriors have advanced to the Region XXI Championship on six occasions falling each time. The last regional championship appearance took place during the 1997-98 season, with Massasoit falling to Mitchell College.

Region XXI Runners Up (6): 76-77, 80-81, 86-87, 95-96, 96-97, 97-98

Most Wins Since 2008-09
Entering the regional tournament, the Warriors have posted a record of 14-6. The 14 victories are the most in a season since 2008-09, when Massasoit finished 18-8.

Against Tournament Opponents
Massasoit posted a 6-1 record against the three possible opponents in the Region XXI Tournament. The Warriors swept the season series with Bunker Hill, claiming contest by scores of 85-56 and 64-54. Massasoit went 3-0 vs. Bristol CC and 1-1 against Roxbury CC.

Massasoit Returns To Top 10
The Warriors returned to the NJCAA Division III National Poll this week, earning a No. 8 ranking. The No. 8 ranking is tied for the highest this season for the Warriors.

Johnson Leads Nation In Assists
Point guard Tianna Johnson (Brockton/New Mission HS) tops all Division III NJCAA players in assists per game, averaging 8.8 per contest. On the season she has recorded 10 or more helpers in nine of 19 games she has played in.

Johnson ranks second amongst all NJCAA players across all three divisions. Domonique Hagins of  Chesapeake College (Division II) tops everyone with 9.9 assists per game.

Double-Double Machine
Fredi Lawson leads the Warriors with 14 double-doubles on the season,  including nine straight games with a double-double. On the season, Lawson is averaging 20.1 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.