Courtesy of MCCTribunes.com
HARRISON, Arkansas – The MCC women’s basketball team rode a hot-shooting first half to an 87-71 victory over Mesa Community College in the semifinals of the NJCAA Division II national tournament Friday night.
The Tribunes (32-2) will face Kirkwood at 8:30 p.m. Saturday for the national championship. Monroe is in search of its fifth national title.
The Tribunes shot 46 percent from the field overall and connected on 9-of-18 attempts from beyond the arc in opening a 45-27 lead at the break. Sierra Green hit four 3’s in the first 20 minutes, while Samirah Henderson added a pair.
Green finished with seven 3’s on the night and scored a game-high 25. Two of her trifectas came early in the third as Monroe opened a 23-point lead.
The advantage was 20 heading to the fourth before the Thunderbirds scored 10 straight to cut the lead in half. Mesa did close to within nine, but Monroe hit 11-of-12 free throws down the stretch to pull away.
Jaynelle Robinson had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Torrie Cash finished with 16 points and 10 boards for the Tribunes. Lanay Rodney added nine and Henderson scored eight.
Taliyah Brisco chipped in with seven points and five assists and Shalix Hines added six points and seven assists.
MCC finished 13-for-26 from beyond the arc and was 20-for-26 from the charity stripe. Monroe also held a 43-26 edge on the glass.
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