Golden Eagles fall short in bid for repeat national title

Playing on their home floor failed to give Rock Valley College the extra push it needed to get back to the top as the top-seeded Golden Eagles lost 58-52 to #2 Hostos Community College (NY) in the 2018 NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Game in Rockford, Illinois. Rock Valley, the defending national champs, were looking for their fifth championship in seven years, but settled for a second runner-up finish during that time period.

The Golden Eagles struggled in the second and fourth quarters, scoring eight points in each of those quarters, en route to ending their season with a 22-13 record. Paige Wogen came off the bench to lead RVC with 12 points, while Madi Hecox and Emily Cox each posted 11 points.

To make their second straight title game appearance, Rock Valley opened with a 64-59 win over #8 Rowan-Gloucester County College (NJ) behind Kalea Kruser's double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds. Hecox and Cox again matched point totals with 14 each. In the semifinals, RVC got by #5 Northland Community and Technical College (MN) by a 56-50 margin thanks to 15 points from Hayley Sorenson and 11 from Cox.

Sorenson, a freshman, and Cox, a sophomore, were named to the All-Tournament Team.