DuPage overcomes slow start to capture first Region 4 crown since 2008
JOLIET, ILL. - Despite a slow start, the College of DuPage recovered to defeat Joliet Junior College by a 80-67 final to win the 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division III Women's Basketball Tournament Championship on Sunday, February 26. The top-seeded Chaparrals are the first team not named Rock Valley College (now in Division II) to claim the title since 2016, and denied the second-seeded Wolves their first championship since 2011. The College of DuPage was led by Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player Sierra Gibson and Region 4 Coach of the Year Abigail Talley. (College of DuPage Recap)
Host Joliet Junior College started fast, taking a 21-13 lead after the game's first ten minutes and limited the COD scoring to just two players. The Chaparrals found the scoring groove, and a few additional scoring options, in the second quarter and rallied to take a 26-23 lead midway through the quarter. The Wolves outscored the Chaps 13-9 to close the half with a 36-35 advantage. A big 13-1 burst by COD in the third quarter put the College of DuPage on top for good, however, JJC did narrow the gap to five on two separate occasions in the fourth quarter.
Gibson, a freshman guard, led all scorers with 20 points and made three of the Chaps ten 3-pointers. She also added six rebounds and five assists. Mykah Berkompas posted 18 points and Katlyn Allen added a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds as both joined Gibson on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team.
The College of DuPage advanced to the NJCAA Great Lakes District Championship, where they ran into Owens Community College. The defending national champions and #1-ranked team in the latest NJCAA Division III Poll used a 23-11 opening quarter in Perrysburg, Ohio, to roll to a 76-47 victory to qualify for the 2023 NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships in Rochester, Minnesota. The Chaparrals end their season with a 15-16 overall record.
2023 Region 4 Division III All-Tournament Team
Sierra Gibson - College of DuPage
Mykah Berkompas - College of DuPage
Katlyn Allen - College of DuPage
Grace Harris - Joliet Junior College
Josey Ocampo - Joliet Junior College
Angi Knowles - Joliet Junior College
2023 Region 4 Tournament MVP
Sierra Gibson - College of DuPage
2023 Region 4 Coach of the Year
Abigail Talley - College of DuPage