Morton turns heads in run to NJCAA Division II Runner-Up

PORT HURON, MICH. - Playing in their first true appearance at the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championships, Morton College showed they are a program that belongs on the national stage as they finished national runners-up with a 49-44 (Box Score|Recap) loss to Kirkwood Community College (IA) on Saturday, March 19. The Panthers, who entered the tournament as the #7 seed, finish the season with a 30-3 record.

Morton College advanced through the tournament with 56-52 win over #10 Union County Community College, a 62-57 decision over #2 Johnson County Community College, and an 84-72 victory against previously undefeated and #3 CCBC Essex to reach the title game. Facing seven-time national champion and top-seeded Kirkwood CC, the Panthers led the championship for most of the game, turning a five-point first quarter lead into a 26-22 advantage at halftime. They advantage was as much as seven points in the third quarter, but eventual NJCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Tasia Jordan went on a personal 15-2 run in the fourth quarter to put the Eagles in front. Morton College closed to within 46-44 with back-to-back 3's in the final two minutes, but Kirkwood was able to hold on for their record-tying eighth national championship.

The Region 4 Midwest District B champions had earned their second consecutive berth in the national tournament, however, Covid-19 prevented the Panthers from competing at the 2021 event. Head coach Jason Nichols' squad rode a 26-game win streak into the finals. The trio of Tadriana Heard, Dylan Van Fleet, and Mia Simpson were all named to the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament Team. Heard, a sophomore guard, averaged 15.5 points for the tournament, while Van Fleet, a fellow second year guard, netted 11.7 points and Simpson, a freshman guard, registered 8.2 points.

Region 4 Midwest District A champion Bryant & Stratton College nearly matched Morton College, reaching the national semifinals before ultimately settling for fourth place and a 27-5 record. The Bobcats, playing as the tournament's #5 seed, opened with an 85-67 win over #12 Edison State Community College and beat #13 Muskegon Community College 65-53, before falling 69-41 to eventual national champion Kirkwood Community College. Bryant & Stratton College lost again in the third place game by a 99-52 final to CCBC Essex. Freshman forward Teya Maas earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 11.5 points.

At the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship, #6-seeded Rock Valley College lost their tournament opener to #11 Hostos Community College 74-59, and then suffered a 61-46 setback against #10 Community College of Rhode Island. The Golden Eagles ended the season with an 18-13 record.