BROCKTON, Mass. ---- For the first time since 2008 the Massasoit CC women's basketball has been recognized in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Poll, released by the league office on Wednesday.

Massasoit (5-3) is one of five teams that received votes outside the NJCAA Top 10 Poll and is the lone squad from Region XXI to be listed.

The Warriors began the 2013-14 campaign with a rocky start, dropping their first three games. However, Massasoit has righted the ship and won its last five games to close out the first semester, including a victory over perennial power Roxbury CC, snapping the Tigers 84 consecutive regular season league game win streak.

During the five-game win streak, Massasoit has been outscoring the opposition by 17.8 points per game (79.2 to 61.4) and has three players averaging in double figures.

Fredi Lawson (Boston/J.E. Burke HS), the reigning NJCAA Division III Player of the Week, is averaging 18 ppg over the last five games. Joining Lawson in double digits over that stretch are Ashley Andrade (Randolph/Randolph HS) at 15.4 ppg and Marina Palladino (Carver/Carver HS) at 11.4 ppg.

In addition, the Warriors have been active defensively, totaling 20 or more steals in four of the five victories.

Massasoit is off until January 7, when it travels to Holyoke CC for a game at 6 p.m.

NJCAA National Poll (Division III)
1. Rock Valley College
2. Onondaga CC
3. Cumberland County College
4. Mohawk Valley CC
5. Montgomery College
6. Anoka-Ramsey CC
7. Milwaukee Area Technical College
8. Sullivan County CC
9. Brookdale CC
10. Northland Community & Technical College

Receiving Votes: Minnesota West Community & Technical College, Jefferson CC, West Georgia Technical College, Massasoit CC, Queensborough CC.