CRANFORD – For the second year in a row, the Union County College Lady Owls Basketball Team, ended their season as the champions of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and Region XIX.
After many months of extremely competitive play, the Lady Owls took on the Lady Knights of the Community College of Rhode Island in the district championship game on March 11. The Lady Owls came into the game ranked #15 by the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll and Rhode Island entered as #16 by the NCCAA Division II Coaches Poll.
UCC was down by 20 points at halftime and made a strong effort early in the second half to cut down the Lady Knights’ lead. Unfortunately, Rhode Island stayed ahead of the Lady Owls and UCC fell with a final score of 80-64. The lead scorers for the game were Lashay Jones with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, Allukeshia Guy with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 steals, and Porscha Isom with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists.
The Lady Owls finish the season 22-8 overall. The last time the Lady Owls finished two seasons in a row as the champions of the Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX was in 1996 and 1997.
The coaches of this year’s team also brought the College accolades. Head Coach, Cheryl Bell, was named the Division II Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX Women’s Coach of the Year. The Assistant Coaches, Tracey Napoleon and Chelsea Perry, were named the Division II Garden State Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.
In addition, team players also received many accolades for their achievements throughout the season. UCC had three women named to the Women’s 2nd All Region Team of Region XIX Division II players. They were Lashay Jones, Dorian Jackson, and Allukeshia Guy. Jones and Jackson were also named to the first team of the GSAC Division II. Guy was named to the GSAC second team.
Union County College Women’s Basketball Team
