ROCKFORD, Illinois ---- The top-seeded Massasoit women's basketball team overcame a 15-point second half deficit to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but the eight-seed Cedar Valley Suns rallied to defeat the Warriors, 73-68, in the opening round of the NJCAA National Tournament at Rock Valley College.
The loss marked the first of the season for the Warriors, as they conclude their amazing season with a record of 24-1. Originally guaranteed three games as part of the tournament format, the NJCAA altered the schedule to a single elimination tournament due to health concerns with COVID-19.
As for the game, Massasoit played a back-and-forth battle with Suns in the first half, with Cedar Valley owning a slight edge at the break, 34-32. It marked just the second time all season the Warriors trailed at halftime.
In the second half, CVC pulled away in the third quarter, utilizing a 20-7 run to see its advantage grow to a game-high 15 points – 54-39.
However, the Warriors responded with an 8-0 run to close out the quarter, capped by a Ty Hawkins layup with 25 seconds left to pull within seven, 54-47, heading into the fourth.
Massasoit kept the late third quarter spurt rolling in the final stanza, scoring the first six points of the frame to shrink the CVC lead to a single point 54-53 with 8:12 left in the game.
Following a 6-0 run by the Suns, Massasoit took its first lead since the 8:01 mark of the second quarter, 61-60, off a pair of free throws by Shardajah Collins with 5:33 remaining.
Mataya Young made the back end of two free throws to put Massasoit up 68-65 with 2:53 left in the contest, but that would be the final point of the game for the Warriors as Cedar Valley used an 8-0 run over the final 1:21 to earn the upset victory.
Collins paced the Massasoit offense with 21 points, making 11 of 12 at the free throw line. Hawkins finished with 19 points and Adrianna Grant chipped in with 13 points, all in the first half.
Massasoit forced Cedar Valley in 27 turnovers, tallying 14 steals, five by Collins who averages a NJCAA-best 5.5 per game. However, Massasoit committed 20 turnovers of its own in the loss.
Cedar Valley dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Warriors 57 to 38, with the Suns totaling 22 offensive boards.
The Suns were led by Alana Rusk's 25 points, including going 6-of-9 from downtown. Kaiyla Payne posted a double-double with 17 points and 17 rebounds in the victory.
Cedar Valley advances to the NJCAA semifinals vs Northland CC.
Thursday's game marked the final contest in a Massasoit uniform for sophomores Ty Hawkins and Alyson Reid. Reid was the lone returner from last season's squad, tallied two points, two steals and six assists, while Hawkins, a transfer, finished with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
