Highland wears down ’Jacks in opener
EAST PEORIA, Ill. – For a half, 11th-seeded Chesapeake College seemed prepared to spring the first major upset of the NJCAA Division II women's basketball national tournament.
Sixth-seeded Highland (Kan.) Community College restored order in the second half with a smothering defense, paving the way for a 69-56 victory Tuesday night that snapped Chesapeake's 13-game-winning streak.
Highland, trailing by a point at the break, put together two early second-half runs to begin to take control. Tamiya Green had two inside baskets and Chesapeake (22-2) committed four turnovers during the Scotties' 7-1 run to open the second half. After Denver Clyde scored on a pair of inside layups to pull Chesapeake within 38-37, Highland (28-5) went on a 9-0 run in which four different players scored to build a 47-37 cushion.
"We had too many turnovers (24) and we got outhustled on the boards (50-34)," said Chesapeake head coach Damon Nichols. "We also had too many breakdowns on defense."
The Scotties broke the game open with an 8-2 run, including three more inside hoops by Green, as they built a 62-47 cushion in the closing minutes. Green scored 19 points, 11 of them in the second half, and added 11 rebounds for a double-double.
Clyde had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) while Dejhonae Cannady (12 points) and Brittany Taylor (11 points) also scored in double figures for the Skipjacks.
Chesapeake used a 6-0 run to take a 30-27 lead late in a close, physical first half. Sydney Small scored the final five points of the run, banking home an in-the-lane jumper to tie the game and then burying her second trey of the half to give the Skipjacks the lead. The Scotties twice pulled within a point, the last time on a put-back by Green that got Highland within 32-31 at the break.
Small finished with 10 first-half points while Clyde had eight. Green had nine points and Royce Shields had eight for Highland at the break.
Chesapeake will play 14th-seeded St. Louis Community College Wednesday at 3 p.m. Central Time in the consolation bracket. The winner of that game plays Friday at 11 a.m. for the right to play for seventh place on Saturday.
Highland advanced to a Wednesday evening quarterfinal against third-seeded host Illinois Central College. The winner of that game plays in Friday's 6 p.m. semifinal, with the loser dropping into the consolation bracket.
Notes: Last year, the Skipjacks dropped their national tournament opener before rebounding to win three straight games in the consolation bracket to finish seventh in the nation. One of those wins was against St. Louis, the Skipjacks' next opponent.