Massasoit Women's Basketball Faces Rock Valley At NJCAA National Tournament

BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit Community College women's basketball team will appear in its first-ever NJCAA Division III National Tournament, when it takes on top seeded Rock Valley College on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET) in Rochester, Minn.

Massasoit (16-6) earned the eighth seed after winning an amazing Region XXI Final over Roxbury CC in triple overtime. Rock Valley, winners of 15 straight, defeated Madison College, 90-72 in the Region IV Championship.

Game Information
(1) Rock Valley (26-5) vs. (8) Massasoit (16-6)
Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 1 p.m. CT (2 p.m. ET)
Location: Rochester, Minn. (UCR-Sports Center)

Media Information
All games will be video streamed and stats/other information about the 2014 NJCAA Division III National Tournament can be viewed at the following site: http://www.rochsports.org/njcaawbb 

Tournament Notes
A total of eight teams qualified for the NJCAA Division III National Tournament and each team is guaranteed three games from march 13-15.

Depending on the outcome on Thursday, Massasoit will play either No. 4 Brookdale CC or No. 5 Sullivan County CC on Friday.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• Massasoit defeated Roxbury CC, 98-95 in a triple overtime thriller to claim the program's first-ever Region XXI Championship and earn its first bid to the NJCAA National Tournament. The Warriors played the second and third overtime periods and last 30 seconds of the first overtime with only four players on the court and only one starter -- G/F Ashley Andrade.

• In fact, Massasoit finished both Region XXI playoff games with only four players on the court. In a 64-55 victory over Bunker Hill CC in the semifinals, four players fouled for the Warriors as Massasoit played the final two minutes down a player on the court.

• G Tianna Johnson ranks first in NJCAA Division III in assists per game, dishing out 8.7 on average. Johnson's assist average is good for second nationally amongst all NJCAA players, trailing only Domonique Hagins of Chesapeake College (10.0/game). Johnson has also recorded three triple-doubles on the year.

• F Fredi Lawson averages a double-double per game, scoring 20.4 points and grabbing 12.7 rebounds per contest. On the season she has totaled 16 double-doubles, including 11 straight and has scored in double figures in all 21 games she has played in.

• Lawson was named NJCAA Division 3 Player of the Week back on Dec. 16. She averaged 27 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 steals and shot 63.6 percent from the floor in a pair of Warrior victories.

JOURNEY TO THE NJCAA TOURNEY
Regular Season: 14-6
After starting the season 0-3, Massasoit righted the ship, winning 14 of its final 17 regular season games -- including a season-best 7-game win streak.

The Warriors strong play led them to earning the No. 1 seed in the Region XXI Tournament hosted by Bunker Hill CC in Boston, Mass.

(1) Massasoit 64, (4) Bunker Hill 55 -- Region XXI Semifinals
Despite having four players foul out, Massasoit held on for the 64-55 victory and advanced to the Regional Finals for the first time in 16 years.

Tiana McQueen sank a pair of clutch free throws with 39.1 seconds left to help secure the victory. The Warriors played the final two minutes with only four players on the court.

Fredi Lawson produced 21 points and 13 rebounds, while McQueen added 13 points, nine boards and three blocks.

Ashley Andrade chipped in with 12 points in the win.

(1) Massasoit 98, (2) Roxbury 95 (3OT) -- Region XXI Finals
A game for the ages that needed three overtime periods to find a winner, somehow Massasoit fought its way to its first-ever Region XXI Championship.

Fredi Lawson made game tying shots at the end of regulation (2-pointer) and the first overtime (3-pointer) to keep the Warriors in the game.

With 30 seconds left in the first overtime period, Lawson, who finished with 27 points and 16 rebounds, fouled out. She was the fourth player on Massasoit to be DQed from the game.

Massasoit would play over 10 minutes of action down a player -- both second and third overtimes and final 30 seconds of the first overtime period.

The Warriors' Stephanie Goddard stole a pass and went coast to coast to make a layup and give Massasoit a 78-76 lead with under 10 seconds to play. On the ensuing Roxbury possession, the Warriors were whistled for both a personal foul and technical call for celebrating, giving Roxbury four free throw attempts with 2.5 seconds left. Roxbury only made 2-of-4 at the line sending it to triple OT.

In the third OT, Roxbury scored the first seven points and led by seven with just over two minutes to play. But, Massasoit hung around as Roxbury saw its five on the court dwindle to three players and later two players allowing the Warriors to get back in the game.

Cynara Rustin and Ashley Andrade scored 13 of the final 14 points for the Warriors as they earned the amazing come-from-behind victory. Rustin scored 22 of her career-best 25 points after the end of regulation. Andrade had 17 points and 19 rebounds.

Scouting Rock Valley College
Rock Valley College located in Rockford, Illinois, finished the season on a hot streak, winners of its last 15 games and has not lost a game since Jan. 9.

The Golden Eagles (26-5) defeated Madison Community College in the Region IV Finals, 90-71, to earn the top seed at the NJCAA National Tournament.

Rock Valley has been rich in success on the hardwood, claiming the last two NJCAA National Championships and posted a perfect 14-0 record in conference play this season.

RVC has plenty of options on the scoring end, as the Golden Eagles boast four players that average in double figures. As a team RVC is scoring 85.7 points per game.

Marquiesha Grant tops RVC in scoring, averaging 18.9, while Shantiera Miller (12.7), Zemoria Jernigan (10.0) and Aleesh Cleaver (10.0) also average 10 or more points.