NJCAA Women's Basketball Enters the Home Stretch

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The NJCAA women’s basketball regular season is winding down and squads across the nation are making their final preparations before the start of regional tournaments. This week presents opportunities for several teams to make some late-season improvements against high-quality opponents.

On tap for Wednesday is three games between ranked schools looking to gain some valuable experience on the hardwood. No. 15 Independence Community College (Kan.) from Division I will travel to Division II No. 8 Highland Community College (Kan.) in an interdivisional affair. Squaring-off in Division I, No. 5 Gulf Coast State College (Fla.) will host No. 13Chipola College (Fla.) in a Panhandle Conference matchup.

The Division I Game of the Week will also take place Wednesday in the Arizona Desert. No. 7 Arizona Western College looks to continue their 10-game win streak against visiting No. 3 Central Arizona College. The Arizona Western Matadors last defeat came at the hands of Central Arizona back on Jan. 3. The Vaqueras of Central Arizona come in with a balanced attack featuring four players averaging double figures in scoring.

Two important games in interdivisional play will take place Thursday night. Division II No. 20 Allegany College of Maryland goes on the road to face No. 6 Montgomery College-Rockville (Md.) from Division III. Also in action out of Division II, No. 10North Arkansas College will be at home against Division I opponent State Fair Community College (Mo.).

With a full lineup of games on tap, Saturday promises to be a big day for women’s basketball in the NJCAA. The Division I showdowns include No. 5 Gulf Coast State at No. 18 Northwest Florida State College and No. 8 Casper College (Wyo.) hostingMiles Community College (Mont.). In Division II, No. 5 Kirkwood Community College (Iowa) will welcome in Southeastern Community College (Iowa).

Saturday’s schedule also features the Game of the Week in Division II between No. 3Patrick Henry Community College (Va.) and No. 6 Louisburg College (N.C.). Going on the road into a hostile environment, Patrick Henry will rely heavily on sophomore Eulandra Forrestt. The forward is averaging a double-double this season with 16.1 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. The Hurricanes of Louisburg are riding a 14-game win streak and haven’t lost since November.

The Division III Game of the week will also be on Saturday as No. 10 Northland Community & Technical College(Minn.) plays host to No. 5 Mesabi Range Community & Technical College. The Northland Pioneers spread the ball around as good as any team in the country. Of their 11 players on the roster, eight are averaging more than five points per game. Mesabi Range will look to shut down that balanced attack with Division III’s top defense.

Tuesday will finish off the week with an interdivisional clash in the Midwest. No. 9 Illinois Valley Community College will represent Division II with a home game against Division I opponent Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.). 

NJCAA Women’s Basketball Key Games Feb. 8–14
* DI program         ^ DII program        + DIII program      % non-NJCAA member college

DI Top 10 Schedule
1. Trinity Valley (22-0): vs. Blinn (15-6) – vs. Jacksonville (6-15)
2. Hutchinson (22-0): vs. Garden City (14-9) – at Butler (14-9)
3. Central Arizona (23-1): at #7 Arizona Western (22-2)
4. Pensacola State (20-2): vs. Tallahassee (11-10)
5. Gulf Coast (18-3): vs. #13 Chipola (16-8) – at #18 NW Florida State (20-4)
6. N. Oklahoma-Enid (20-2): vs. N. Oklahoma-Tonkawa (11-13) – at Eastern Oklahoma St. (5-16)
7. Arizona Western (22-2): vs. #3 Central Arizona (23-1)
8. Casper (20-2): at Dawson (3-14) – vs. Miles (17-6)
9. Shelton State (22-2): at Lawson State (6-13) – vs. Alabama Southern (8-8)
10. Monroe CC (19-4): at ^Genesee (6-17)

DII Top 10 Schedule
1. Johnson County (21-1): at *Kansas City (13-10) – at *Fort Scott (6-14)
2. Cincinnati State (21-1): at Edison (12-8) – at Lakeland (11-11) – at %Miami-Hamilton
3. Patrick Henry (15-1): at #6 Louisburg (18-1)
4. Kalamazoo Valley (20-1): at Kellogg (6-15) – vs. Glen Oaks (3-17)
5. Kirkwood (20-2): vs. Southeastern (19-4)
6. Louisburg (18-1): vs. Brunswick (11-9) – vs. #3 Patrick Henry (15-1)
7. Owens (20-4): vs. Sinclair (12-8)
8. Highland-Kan. (20-2): vs. #15 *Independence (18-3) – at *Kansas City (13-10)
9. Illinois Valley (17-6): at Highland-Ill. (6-14) – vs. *Sauk Valley (14-7)
10. North Arkansas (18-4): vs. *State Fair (14-6) – vs. Cottey (7-9)

DIII Top 10 Schedule
1. Anoka-Ramsey (19-2): vs. Minnesota State (11-11) – at Central Lakes (8-12)
2. Onondaga (19-3): at Broome (9-13) – vs. Jefferson CC (5-18)
3. Roxbury (21-4): vs. Quinsigamond (8-6)
4. Rock Valley (18-6): vs. DuPage (4-16)
5. Mesabi Range (17-4): vs. Itasca (9-12) – at #10 Northland (15-6)
6. Montgomery-Rockville (21-4): vs. #20 ^Allegany of Maryland (15-6)
7. Ocean County (18-2): vs. Gloucester County (13-11) – at Camden County (4-15) – at Passaic County (6-14)
8. Northampton (19-4): vs. Bergen (10-11) – vs. Middlesex County (12-10)
9. Nassau (14-1): at Queensborough (11-8) – vs. Hostos (9-12) – vs. Dutchess (2-15) – at Sullivan County (5-13)
10. Northland (15-6): at Rainy River (8-11) – vs. #5 Mesabi Range (17-6)