Here’s a look at the field as the NJCAA Division I Women's Tournament starts in Lubbock, Texas:
THE FAVORITES
No. 1 Three Rivers (28-0) ranks among the top 10 in nine different statistical categories, including points per game (third), steals (fifth), rebounds per game (seventh) and assists (ninth). The Raiders rank 16th in points allowed per game at 54.8 and are 17th in free-throw shooting. Plus, the Raiders reached the final four last year, losing to the eventual champion 71-63.
No. 2 Shelton State (29-1) from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has won 28 in a row since a loss to Georgia Highlands on Nov. 5. The Bucs started the season ranked sixth in the nation after losing to Trinity Valley 70-62 in the quarterfinals last year. They are the top-ranked shooting team in the nation at 47.6% and are second in rebounding (49.3) and assists (21.2) while ranking fifth in points per game (86.2). Taylor Smith (5-4, soph.) averages 10.6 points and 5.0 assists while Asia Barclay (6-0, fr.) averages 10.0 points.
No. 3 Georgia Highlands (29-2) from Rome, Georgia, has five players averaging 11.7 points or more per game led by freshman guard Jashanti Simmons (16.8). The Chargers have not lost since a 2-2 start to the season that featured losses to Gulf Coast State and Chipola. They rank seventh in points per game (84.1) and fourth in steals (16.5).
No. 4 Northwest Florida State (27-2), the defending champions, lost to Chipola by two on Jan. 22 for its first loss of the season and at Gulf Coast State on Feb. 5. But the Raiders beat Chipola twice, including a 17-point win in the playoffs. The Raiders rank second in the nation in points allowed per game (46.9) and ninth in rebounding margin but 53rd in points per game (70.0).
No. 5 Wabash Valley (28-1) has not lost since Nov. 6 at Three Rivers when a short-handed Raiders team won 69-61. The Warriors beat Moberly Area by five in December and have not been tested since a 10-point road win Jan. 15 against John A. Logan. Wabash Valley is the top-ranked scoring team in the nation (89.1) and ranks third in field goal percentage, ninth in offensive rebounds and 10th in steals. Daijah Smith leads the team in scoring at 17.2 points per game and is among five players averaging double figures in scoring.
No. 6 Southern Idaho (30-2) has one of the best defenses, ranking eighth in the nation for points allowed per game (51.8) and 11th in opponents’ field goal percentage (33.4%). The Eagles lost to Utah State Eastern on the road Feb. 2 but won the rematch at home by 17 a week later. Their other loss was by 10 at Central Arizona on Nov. 13. Southern Idaho has only one player averaging double figures in scoring (12.5) in freshman forward Emilia Nworie.
No. 7 Blinn (28-4) is making its first appearance in the tournament in six years after knocking off Trinity Valley (Texas) in the region final. The Buccaneers rank fifth in the nation in assists per game (19.8), 10th in rebounds (45.8) and 11th in 3-point shooting percentage (34.6%). Tiffany Tullis (6-0, fr.) averages a double-double with 11.5 points and 10.7 rebounds while guard Telisha Brown averages 13.8 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 43.5% from 3-point range.
No. 8 Arizona Western (29-2) is back in the field for the first time since 2002 and rank as the third-best defense in the nation, allowing 48.5 points per game, while second in opponents’ field goal percentage (31.7%). The Matadors can also hit free throws, ranking 14th at 71.3%. Alliance Ndiba, a 6-3 freshman, averages 16.0 points and 11.9 rebounds with 3.0 blocks.
CINDERELLAS
No. 16 Chipola (23-8) was the No. 3 team in the preseason poll and had three wins over ranked opponents before a loss to Shelton State at the end of December. Five of Chipola’s losses were to ranked opponents, including three against defending champion Northwest Florida State, which lost at Chipola 52-50 on Jan. 22. Chipola comes in having lost four of its last six with an overtime win to start the district playoffs. Sophomore guard Jordan McLaughlin leads Chipola at 15.9 points, 5.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game.
No. 17 Tyler (23-8) returns to the national tournament for the fourth straight season after being ranked second in the preseason poll. The Apaches have lost four of five, including a one-point loss in the region playoffs, but rank 13th in the nation in points per game (78.8) and are among the best rebounding teams, ranking sixth in margin per game and 10th in offensive rebounds. Deborah Ogayemi, a 5-11 sophomore, averages a double-double at 10.0 points and 10.8 rebounds while Nadechka Laccen averages 15.2 points while shooting 42.6% from 3-point range. Veonce Powell has nit nearly half of her 83 shots from 3-point range and averages 14.3 points.
No. 9 South Georgia Tech (26-6) lost to Georgia Highlands but is a good rebounding team led by Fanta Gassama, who averages 10.1 points and 12.0 rebounds. Alexia Dizeko leads the offense at 14.4 points per game.
No. 20 North Dakota State College of Science (30-2) is the best 3-point shooting team in the nation, averaging 10.1 per game and shooting 36.4%. The Wildcats also rank in the top 10 for free-throw shooting percentage (73.2%), field goal percentage (45.0%) and total points while ranking 12th in points per game (79.2). Ivane Tensaie averages 20.9 points, shooting 42.5% from 3-point range and 90.7% from the foul line, and 4.7 assists. Ambah Kowcun averages 19.3 points and 3.9 assists, shooting 37% from 3-point range.
No. 12 Western Nebraska (27-2) was ranked fourth in the final regular season poll but stumbled in the region semifinal, snapping a 22-game win streak dating back to a loss at Southern Idaho. The Cougars ranked second in the nation at 88.3 points per game and also rank in the top 10 for shooting and rebounding, leading the nation in assists (21.4) and second in steals (17.0). Ale’jah Douglas averages 18.1 points to lead the offense.
No. 15 Moberly Area (26-5) also ranks among the top-10 offenses in the nation and ranks 15th in points allowed. The Greyhounds lost four times to Three Rivers and by five to No. 5 Wabash Valley.
No. 11 Trinity Valley (25-6) lost to No. 7 Blinn in the region final but return to the tournament for the 15th straight year after reaching the championship game last season as the No. 2 seed. The Cardinals have five players averaging 11.4 points or more per game.
NJCAA DIVISION I TOURNAMENT
At Rip Griffin Center, Lubbock, Texas
Wednesday's Games
Chipola, Fla. (23-8) vs. Tyler, Texas (23-8), 10 a.m.
South Ga. Tech (26-6) vs. Monroe, NY (14-14), 12 p.m.
Moberly Area (26-5) vs. Eastern Fla. (26-4), 2 p.m.
New Mexico (26-4) vs. Jones, Miss. (22-7) 4 p.m.
South Plains, Texas (20-8) vs. N.Dakota SCS (30-2), 6 p.m.
Western Neb. (27-2) vs. Murray St., Okla. (27-5), 8 p.m.
Thursday's Games
Casper, Wyo. (28-4) vs. Hutchinson, Kan. (28-5), 10 a.m.
Trinity Valley, Texas (25-6) vs. Walters St., Tenn. (19-6), 12 p.m.
Second Round
Three Rivers (28-0) vs. Chipola-Tyler winner, 2 p.m.
Arizona Western (29-2) vs. S.Ga.Tech-Monroe winner, 4 p.m.
Shelton St., Ala. (29-1) vs. Moberly Area-Eastern Fla. winner, 6 p.m.
Blinn (28-4) vs. New Mexico-Jones winner, 8 p.m.
Friday's Games
Northwest Fla. St. (27-2) vs. S.Plains-N.D. SCS winner, 1 p.m.
Wabash Valley, Ill. (28-1) vs. Western Neb.-Murray St. winner, 3 p.m.
Ga. Highlands (29-2) vs. Casper-Hutchinson winner, 5 p.m.
Southern Idaho (30-2) vs. Trinity Valley-Walters St. winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday's Games
Quarterfinals, 1, 3, 5, 7 p.m.
Sunday's Games
Semifinals, 4, 6 p.m.
Monday's Games
Championship, 7 p.m.
Brian Rosener - Daily American Republic