Champs! CCBC Essex Claims NJCAA DII Women's Basketball Title

courtesy NJCAA.org

PORT HURON, MICH. -- CCBC Essex won the 2023 NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship title after defeating eighth-seeded Richard Bland, 95-85, in an overtime thriller at the SC4 Fieldhouse on Saturday, March 25. The championship is the first women's basketball title in the Knights' program's history. After a third-place finish in last year's championship, CCBC Essex was not denied this year.

Knights' guards Tyler Gray and Faith Blackstone finished with 27+ points each respectively, with Blackstone earning a double double with 11 rebounds. Sophomore Anasia Staton, Gray, and Blackstone were each named to the All-Tournament team. Blackstone was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player as she averaged 20.5 points and six rebounds per game across the tournament.

The national championship game was a thriller from start to finish. The opening quarter saw both teams come out firing. Janiah Jones of Richard Bland scored eight points in the opening frame, but the Knights held a 19-13 lead. The Statesmen bounced back and showed the strong defensive presence they had all tournament, holding the Knights to 13 points and cutting the lead to one. 

Both teams emerged from the locker room with some fire as they each scored 20+ points respectively. The score going the fourth was 56-55 with Richard Bland holding the lead. The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair. Both teams held the lead at various points in the quarter. Gray converted on a tough layup with 58 seconds to play to tie the game at 54. She then drove the lane and drew a foul with just 14 seconds to play and sunk both free throws. Richard Bland was not going down easy, as Auzhane Allard converted on a tough layup with 14 seconds to play and take it to overtime.

The Knights came out firing in the overtime period, where Blackstone scored eight of the team's 19 points to give CCBC Essex its first championship.

CCBC Essex put together an impressive tournament from start to finish. They won their tournament games by an average of 22 points, with their closest game being the semifinal against defending champion Kirkwood.

Knights Head Coach Mike Seney was named the Lorene Ramsey Coach of the Tournament.

Full recap and photo gallery at njcaa.org