Gulf Coast State College

  • District: H
  • Nickname: Lady Commodores
  • Head coach: Mary “Roonie” Scovel
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-1, 11-1 (first place FCSAA Panhandle Conference)

Top players:

  • F Kristina King (18.8 ppg., 8.8 rpg.)
  • F Audrey-Ann Caron Goudreau (12.5 ppg., 9.8 rpg.)
  • F Maria A Morales Castro (11.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg.)
  • G Amanda Paschal (11.2 ppg., 3.5 apg.)

About the Lady Commodores: Gulf Coast State enters the national tournament as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. The Lady Commodores are seeking their third national championships after winning it all in 2003, 2008 and 2010 but are making their first tournament appearance since 2013 … The Lady Commodores have won six straight games since a loss to rival Chipola College in early February, its only loss of the season …. Freshman guard Raven Fox, who averages 9.4 points per game, is committed to Syracuse.

 

Shelton State Community College

  • District: N
  • Nickname: Buccaneers
  • Head coach: Madonna Thompson
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 31-1, 13-0 (first place Alabama Community College Conference)

Top players:

  • G Tcheneavia Knight (13.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 2.8 apg.)
  • G Gabrielle Nicholson (12.8 ppg., 3.2 rpg.)
  • G Meredith Lovelady (11.5 ppg., 2.2 rpg.)

About the Buccaneers: Shelton State enters the national tournament ranked No. 5 in the nation and owner of an 18-game winning streak. But the Buccaneers had to fend off upset-minded Wallace State, which pulled off three upsets to reach the district tournament title game … Shelton State is the epitome of domination, winning their ninth conference title since 2006 … Shelton State’s only loss on the season is to No. 1-ranked Gulf Coast State in late December.

 

Salt Lake Community College

  • District: 18
  • Nickname: Bruins
  • Head coach: Betsy Specketer
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 30-2, 14-1 (first place Scenic West Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Tilar Clark (15.7 ppg., 6.5 rpg.)
  • G Monique Mills (14.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg.)
  • G Iva Georgieva (9.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

About the Bruins: Salt Lake Community College breezed through the majority of its season unscathed, the only team to nick the Bruins being the ninth-ranked College of Southern Idaho, which twice beat the Bruins, including in the Region 18 tournament … The Bruins are making their fifth national tournament appearance, all since 2005-06 with their highest finish being fifth in 2009-10 … SLCC finished last season with an appearance in the Sweet 16.

 

New Mexico Junior College

  • District: E
  • Nickname: Lady Thunderbirds
  • Head coach: Drew Sanders
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 30-2, 14-0 (first place Western Junior College Athletic Conference

Top players:

  • G Shaniya Mitchell (10.0 ppg., 6.1 rpg.)
  • F Daiane Machado (9.8 ppg., 5.2 rpg.)
  • F Nycolle Smith (9.2 ppg., 5.4 rpg.)

About the Lady Thunderbirds: No team comes into the national tournament on more of a roll than New Mexico Junior College, which has won 26 consecutive games. NJMC’s only losses came to Arizona Western and fellow tournament entry Eastern Arizona in the second game of the season … The Lady Thunderbirds get the job done with defense, allowing a paltry 42.5 points per game … While Mitchell is the only double-figure scorer for NMJC, it does have four other players who average between 8.3 and 9.8 points per game.

 

College of Southern Idaho

  • District: M
  • Nickname: Golden Eagles
  • Head coach: Randy Rogers
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-4, 11-4 (second place, Scenic West Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Kandiss Barber (17.6 ppg., 9.2 rpg.)
  • C Samantha Lubcke (10.5 ppg., 7.6 rpg.)
  • G Brianna Osorio (12.4 ppg., 5.7 rpg.)

About the Golden Eagles: The Golden Eagles ousted Salt Lake Community College to win the Region 18 Championship, the ninth regional title in the program’s history. CSI entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed behind regular-season champion Salt Lake CC … The Golden Eagles finished the regular season ranked No. 9 in the nation after opening at No. 4 … CSI finished fifth at the NJCAA National Tournament a year ago.

 

Trinity Valley Community College

  • Region: 14
  • Nickname: Lady Cardinals
  • Head coach: Gerald Ewing
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-3, 19-1 (first place NJCAA Region 14)

Top players:

  • G Naomi Davenport (14.7 ppg., 5.5 rpg.)
  • F Maya Singleton (13.6 ppg., 11.9 rpg.)
  • G Christalah Lyons (12.9 ppg., 5.0 apg.)

About the Lady Cardinals: Trinity Valley Community College spent time atop the NJCAA polls this season but were forced to earn an at-large berth after falling to San Jacinto North in the semifinals of the Region 14 tournament … The Lady Cardinals will be in search of their eighth national championship and first since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 … This will be Trinity Valleys 20th national tournament appearance, where it is 57-16 and has played in four straight title games.

 

Daytona (Florida) State College

  • Region: 8
  • Nickname: Lady Falcons
  • Head coach: Cal Cochran
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-2, 12-0 (first place FCSAA Mid-Florida Conference

Top players:

  • G Brittney Chambers (17.1 ppg., 3.9 rpg)
  • G Jazlynd Rollins (15.1 ppg., 3.2 apg.)
  • G Stephania Oramas (14.1 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 3.2 rpg.)

About the Lady Falcons: The Lady Falcons earned an at-large berth after losing to Northwest Florida in the first round of the FCSAA tournament based on their No. 2 ranking and strong regular-season showing … This marks the first NJCAA national tournament berth in the school’s history … Daytona State is the third of three FCSAA schools in the field, joining Northwest Florida and Gulf Coast State.

 

Walters State College

  • District: G
  • Nickname: Lady Senators
  • Head coach: Dave Kragel
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 32-0, 18-0 (first place Tennessee Community College Athletic Association)

Top players:

  • F Ant’Treasia Patton (13.8 ppg., 2.0 rpg.)
  • G Destiny Alston (10.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 2.7 spg.)
  • F Tasha Magruder (8.9 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)

About the Lady Senators: Walters State is just one victory shy from tying the school mark for victories in a season, a 33-1 mark set in 2008-09 … Legendary head coach Dave Kragel earned his 900th career victory in the Lady Senators’ regular-season finale. He is a member of the National Community College Coaches Athletic Association Hall of Fame … This marks the 13th overall appearance and fifth straight in the national tournament for Walters State. Its best finish came last season when the Lady Senators finished fifth.

 

Midland College

  • Region: 5
  • Nickname: Lady Chaparrals
  • Head coach: Ron Jones
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 26-6, 11-3 (second place Western Junior College Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • C Walnatia Wright (17.8 ppg., 9.8 rpg.)
  • G Sierra Dixon (10.3 ppg., 4.2 rpg.)
  • C Lisa Kaempf (9.5 ppg., 5.6 rpg.)

About the Lady Chaparrals: Midland College could have the decided home-court advantage from a fan standpoint, having to travel just two hours to Lubbock … The Lady Chaps are making their seventh national tournament appearance where they’ve finished in the Final Four three times and were the 2001 runner-up … The game will also be a homecoming of sorts for freshman guard Bayli Bowles, who played her high-school basketball at Roosevelt.

 

Cowley County Community College

  • District: F
  • Nickname: Lady Tigers
  • Head coach: Todd Clark
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 27-7, 14-5 (tied for second place Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference)

Top players:

  • G Maddi Greenwood (12.6 ppg., 2.7 spg.)
  • G Devon Branch (11.3 ppg., 2.2 rpg.)
  • G Rijanna Lainge (8.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg)

About the Lady Tigers: It’s been an incredible season for Cowley County, which is making its first appearance in the national tournament since 1989 after knocking off Seward in the regional final (Seward had ousted 12th-ranked Hutchinson in the semifinals) … Head coach Todd Clark is the second-winningest coach in school history (284-105) behind only Linda Hargrove, a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame … This is the 10th straight season for Cowley County to win at least 20 games.

 

Northwest Florida State College

  • District: H
  • Nickname: Raiders
  • Head coach: Tamela McCorvey
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 21-11, 5-8 (third place FCSAA Panhandle Conference)

Top players:

  • G Acey Powell (14.1 ppg., 3.8 rpg.)
  • F Britney Snowden (12.6 ppg., 10.1 rpg.)
  • G Tia Sanders (12.0 ppg., 2.6 apg.)

About the Raiders: Northwest Florida State has reached the quarterfinals of the national tournament each of the past two seasons, but had a tougher time getting to the tournament this season, beating No. 2-ranked Daytona State in the semifinals of the FCSAA tournament and No. 6 Chipola College in the finals … The Raiders lost to No. 1-ranked and Panhandle champion Gulf Coast State in the District H final.

 

Blinn College

  • District: L
  • Nickname: Buccaneers
  • Head coach: Jeff Jenkins
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 25-8, 14-6 (second place Region XIV Conference)

Top players:

  • G Ebony Parker (17.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg.)
  • F Ekiya Gray (13.8 ppg., 7.5 rpg.)
  • G Jeliah Preston (13.2 ppg., 28 apg.)

About the Buccaneers: Head coach Jeff Jenkins is the winningest coach in Blinn College history. In 14 seasons he has compiled a 298-153 record and is leading the Lady Buccaneers to their third national tournament appearance in four years … Jenkins played collegiately at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and Howard Payne University in Brownwood … Sophomore Penina Faumui had a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds) in the title-clinching win over San Jacinto College-North.

 

Northeast Oklahoma A&M

  • District: B
  • Nickname: Lady Norse
  • Head coach: Jim Rowland
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-3, 17-1 (first place Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Maria Suarez (16.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg.)
  • G Melinda Murillo (12.7 ppg., 3.6 rpg.)
  • F Hatty Nawezhi (11.2 ppg., 8.9 rpg.)

About the Lady Norse: Northeast Oklahoma A&M enters the national tournament ranked No. 10 in the nation after opening the season at No. 21 … In 12 seasons at NEO, head coach Jim Rowland has compiled an impressive record of 255-88 and has led the Lady Norse to their third straight OCAC championship … The Lady Norse have plenty of depth to go around as seven players averaged 17 minutes or more per game, with four players averaging 20 or more.

 

Northeast Community College

  • District: K
  • Nickname: Lady Hawks
  • Head coach: Matt Svehla
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-4, 2-2 (second place Iowa Community College Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Raveen Murray (13.7 ppg., 5.3 rpg.)
  • G Maeva Kitantou (12.3 ppg., 4.8 apg., 3.6 spg.)
  • G Brooke Bauer (12.1 ppg., 4.7 rpg.)
  • F Sydney Koel (11.5 ppg., 5.3 rpg.)

About the Lady Hawks: Northeast Community College reached the national tournament with an upset of No. 11-ranked Iowa Western in the championship of the Region XI Division I tournament then followed that with a win over State Fair in the district tournament … The Lady Hawks enter the national tournament having won 10 straight games and 13 of their last 14 … Kitantou and Murray were named first-team all-region.

 

Eastern Arizona College

  • District: A
  • Nickname: Gila Monsters
  • Head coach: Ryan McAdams
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 24-8, 19-3 (second place Arizona Community College Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Akia Frett (11.9 ppg., 4.4 apg.)
  • F Tania Pierre-Emile (10.5 ppg., 6.9 rpg.)
  • G Jazzlynn Brewster (10.5 ppg.; 4.3 rpg., 3.0 spg.)

About the Gila Monsters: Eastern Arizona, the No. 2 seed in the District A tournament, took down 23rd-ranked and top-seeded Central Arizona to claim the title and earn the berth into the national tournament … The Gila Monsters come into the tournament on a roll, having won eight of their last nine games and avenged back-to-back losses to Central Arizona and Cochise with wins in the regional semifinal and final … Eastern Arizona averages 74.6 points per game and shoots 32.1 percent from the 3-point line.

 

Georgia Highlands College

  • District: J
  • Nickname: Lady Chargers
  • Head coach: Brandan Harrell
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 25-9, 14-2 (second place Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association)

Top players:

  • G Kayla Carter (16.2 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 4.7 apg.)
  • F Deana Blankinship (10.5 ppg., 6.6 rpg., 3.1 apg.)
  • C Deashia Jones (10.3 ppg., 9.0 rpg.)

About the Lady Chargers: Georgia Highlands is one of the few unranked teams in the tournament field after beating Spartanburg-Methodist in the District J championship … Georgia Highlands is an experienced team with four sophomores who have started 29 or more games this season … The Lady Chargers defend the 3-point line very well, allowing opponents to shoot only 25.3 percent from beyond the arc.

 

Gillette College

  • District: I
  • Nickname: Lady Pronghorns
  • Head coach: Will Rider
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 23-10, 11-1 (tied first place Region IX-North Division)

Top players:

  • F Mary Goulding (16.9 ppg. 10.7 rpg.)
  • G Nakedra Burke (11.3 ppg., 2.5 apg.)
  • G Angie Murnion (8.9 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

About the Lady Pronghorns: The Lady Pronghorns earned the right to host the Region IX tournament after winning a coin toss with co-division champion Casper College … Burke, whose family is in the military, returns to Texas after her family was stationed in El Paso for a short time … The Lady Pronghorns are a young team with only two sophomores, Burke and forward Beth Sutter … Gillette has won nine straight and 19 of its last 20.

 

Northern Oklahoma College-Enid

  • District: B
  • Nickname: Jets
  • Head coach: Scott Morris
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 27-6, 15-3 (second place Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Rylie Torrey (17.8 ppg., 4.0 rpg.)
  • G Gabbie Parsons (9.4 ppg., 2.0 rpg.)
  • F Alexis Hill (9.3 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)

About the Jets: Northern Oklahoma College-Enid finished second behind Northeast Oklahoma A&M in the OCAC. Of the Jets’ six losses this year, half of them came to the Lady Norse … The Jets are a tremendous defensive team, holding opponents to just over 51 points per game and 35.1 percent shooting … Norther Oklahoma College-Enid is making its fourth appearance in the national tournament, all of which have come in the last seven years. This will also be the Jets’ second appearance in the past three seasons.

 

Vincennes Community College

  • District: P
  • Nickname: Trailblazers
  • Head coach: Harry Meeks
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 28-5

Top players:

About the Trailblazers: As the only member of Region 12, Vincennes Community College does not play a conference schedule but does play against the members of Region 24, then meets the region winner for the district championship … Head coach Harry Meeks, who is also the school’s athletic director, is 589-232 in 25 years at the school … The Trailblazers enter the national tournament winners of nine of their last 10 games.

 

Lake Region State College

  • District: D
  • Nickname: Lady Royals
  • Head coach: Danny Mertens
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 27-7, 11-1 (first place Mon-Dak Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Kennedy Henningsgard (17.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg.)
  • F Cassidy Nelson (14.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)
  • C Kristin Flowers (12.0 ppg., 10.0 rpg.)

About the Lady Royals: The Lady Royals cruised to the Mon-Dak regular season title and the regional crown by winning nine straight games and 13 of their last 14. This is Lake Region State’s third straight national tournament appearance … The Lady Royals pride themselves on their shooting ability, and the stats bear that out, shooting 43.6 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from 3-point range … Henningsgard surpassed the 1,000 career points mark earlier this season.

 

Itawamba Community College

  • District: O
  • Nickname: Lady Bears
  • Head coach: Nanci Gray
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 23-6, 10-2 (first place Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges)

Top players:

  • G Jabria Pounds (10.8 ppg., 5.8 rpg.)
  • PG Alontra Tucker (10.6 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 4.3 apg.)
  • G Marlee Hatcher (10.2 ppg., 2.4 rpg.)

About the Lady Bears: The Lady Bears enter the national tournament coming off their second straight Region 23 championship, edging Copiah-Lincoln Community College by four points … Two of Itawamba’s six losses on the season came to fellow tournament participant Shelton State … Itawamba is making its third national tournament appearance in the last four seasons … Sophomore forward Ieysha Mays had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds in the conference title game.

 

Harford Community College

  • District: C
  • Nickname: Fighting Owls
  • Head coach: Michael Seney
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 27-2, 12-0 (first place Maryland JUCO Conference)

Top players:

  • G Mia Fitts (18.3 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 3.0 spg.)
  • G Daisa Harris (17.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 8.0 apg.)
  • G Darra Walker (14.6 ppg., 2/6 rpg.)

About the Fighting Owls: It’s been a record-setting year for Harford Community College in 2015-16. The Fighting Owls set a school record with 27 wins in breezing to the conference championship … While most of Harford’s scoring comes from its guards, don’t sleep on forward Dominique Walker, who averages 9.0 points and 10.3 rebounds per game … Harford scored 100 points or more in 11 games this season and the Fighting Owls average well over 90 per game.

 

ASA New York

  • District: C
  • Nickname: Lady Avengers
  • Head coach: Thomas Davis
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 20-2

Top players:

  • G Stephanie Davis (13.1 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)
  • G Diandra Darosa (11.6 ppg., 6.2 apg.)
  • F Mary Cuevas (11.2 ppg., 12.1 rpg.)
  • G Shakila Small (10.1 ppg., 8.1 rpg.)

About the Lady Avengers: ASA New York will be making its fourth straight trip to the national tournament … ASA, which stands for Advanced Software Analysis, began in 1985 in Brooklyn and has expanded to 3,000 students in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The college now also focuses studies on healthcare, business and criminal justice … The Lady Avengers can drain the 3-pointer, hitting 37 percent from beyond the arc for the season.

 

Highland (Illinois) Community College

  • District: D
  • Nickname: Cougars
  • Head coach: Erin Butler
  • 2015-16 Record/Finish: 21-10, 9-2 (first place Arrowhead Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • F Alysha Justice (19.0 ppg., 15.0 rpg.)
  • G Marissa Mandeldove (17.8 ppg., 4.9 apg.)
  • G Daranesha Smith (10.7 ppg., 2.7 rpg.)

About the Cougars: Highland enters the tournament as one of four zone qualifiers after falling to Lake Region State in the District D championship game … The Cougars are making just their second appearance in the national tournament in school history, their first coming in 2009. Highland has won the Region IV championship six times, the most recent clinching a berth in the national tournament with a 56-49 win over Sauk Valley.