Morton, Bryant & Stratton leave no doubt with repeat Region 4 championships
ROCKFORD, ILL. - Two teams emerged as clear winners of the 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A & B) Women's Basketball Tournaments with resounding victories through each round. Morton College, ranked #1 in the NJCAA Division II Poll, kept its perfect record intact with en route to claiming the Region 4 Midwest District B crown for third consecutive year, while Bryant & Stratton College secured their fourth title in the last five years by rolling through the Region 4 Midwest District A field.
Morton College won their three tournament games by an average of 46.0 points, and finished with a 96-68 victory of second-seeded Rock Valley College on the Golden Eagles home floor. A 7-0 run to end the first half gave the Panthers a 50-36 lead, and they went on to win the third quarter y six points and the fourth quarter by eight as they slowly pulled away. Sophomore guard Mia Simpson racked up a career-high 38 points and 11 rebounds, and was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player. Teammates Claire Hyde nad Kaylen Evans joined Simpson on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team with 21 and 13 points, respectively. Jason Nichols was awarded Region 4 Coach of the Year. (Morton Recap)
Bryant & Stratton College also enjoyed some easy wins, taking down their three opponents by an average margin of 31.7 points, concluding with a 68-52 over Oakton College. The Bobcats raced out to a 25-13 lead after the first quarter, but saw the advantage cut to seven at the half. Still a seven-point game entering the fourth quarter, BSC outscored the Owls 15-6 over the final ten minutes. Sophomore Teya Maas was named Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player after delivering ten points and 15 rebounds in the title game. Mondrea Williams added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Lacyia Hill dropped in 13 points to join Maas on the Region 4 All-Tournament Team. The Region 4 Coach of the Year was given to Brandon Siska.
Both Morton College (31-0) and Bryant & Stratton College (27-5) earn automatic bids into the 2023 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship in Port Huron, Michigan, from March 21-25. The Panthers, who lost in the national title game last season, is the top overall seed and will open against #16-seed United Tribes Tech (9-19) on Tuesday, March 21 at 5pm. The Bobcats were awarded the #6-seed and will battle #11-seed Niagara County (28-3) at 8am on Tuesday, March 21.
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) Women's Basketball Bracket
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) All-Tournament Team
Madison Dorband - Oakton College
Nessa Walsh - Oakton College
Macey Gandee - Oakton College
Lacyia Hill - Bryant & Stratton College
Mondrea Williams - Bryant & Stratton College
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) Tournament MVP
Teya Maas - Bryant & Stratton College
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District A) Coach of the Year
Brandon Siska - Bryant & Stratton College
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District B) Women's Basketball Bracket
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District B) All-Tournament Team
Maya Mitchell - Rock Valley College
Elli Teubert - Rock Valley College
McKenna Williams - Rock Valley College
Kaeyla Evans - Morton College
Claire Hyde - Morton College
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District B) Tournament MVP
Mia Simpson - Morton College
2023 Region 4 Division II (Midwest District B) Coach of the Year
Jason Nichols - Morton College