Three Rivers Community College

  • Tournament seed: 1
  • District/Region: Central/XVI
  • Nickname: Raiders
  • Head coach: Alex Wiggs
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 28-0, 14-0 (first place Missouri Community College Athletic Conference)

Top players:

  • G Myia Yelder (17.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 5.2 apg)
  • G Autumn Dodd (11.7 ppg,, 3.5 rpg., 2.8 apg.)
  • G Jenna McMillen (11.3 ppg., 2.3 apg.)

About the Raiders: Three Rivers is making just its third appearance in the national tournament since 2004 after earning its second straight Region XVI championship and third in the last 15 years … Three Rivers head coach Alex Wiggs, who is in his third season leading the team, has the Raiders back in the national tournament for the third time in four years … Sophomore guard Myia Yelder became just the third women’s player in Three Rivers history to surpass 1,000 points earlier this season … The Raiders were the No. 9 seed in 2021.

Shelton State Community College

  • Tournament seed: 2
  • District/Region: South/XXII
  • Nickname: Lady Buccaneers
  • Head coach: Madonna Thompson
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 29-1, 16-0 (first place Alabama Community College Conference North Division)

Top players: 

  • PG Nya Valentine (14.1 ppg., 5.8 apg.)
  • G Taylor Smith (10.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 5.0 apg.)
  • F Asia Barclay (10.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg.)

About the Lady Buccaneers: Shelton State comes into the national tournament with its 15th conference title since 2006, having beaten Wallace State in the regional finals … The Lady Buccaneers are arguably the hottest team in the nation coming into the tournament, winners of 28 straight games. Shelton State’s last loss came on Nov. 5 – the second game of the season – to tournament qualifier Georgia Highlands College … Shelton State has embraced the defensive side of the ball this season, coming into the tournament as the No. 1 team in the state allowing just 45.9 points per game.

Georgia Highlands College

  • Tournament seed: 3
  • District/Region: Southeast/XVII
  • Nickname: Lady Chargers
  • Head coach: Brandan Harrell
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 29-2, 15-0 (first place Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association)

Top players: 

  • G Jashanti Simmons (16.8 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) 
  • G Alexandra Shishkina (13.0 ppg., 3.4 rpg.)
  • F O’Mariyah Tucker (11.8 ppg., 8.6 rpg.)
  • G Jada Alston (11.8 ppg., 5.7 rpg.)

About the Lady Chargers: Georgia Highlands is back in the national tournament for the second straight season and just the second time since 2016, the first year it was held in Lubbock. The Lady Chargers, winners of 27 straight games, earned the automatic berth after disposing of Spartanburg Methodist in the Region 17 tournament finals. … In their last appearance in 2021, the Lady Chargers lost in the second round to South Plains College … Georgia Highlands ranks No. 7 in the nation in scoring at 84.1 points per game.

Northwest Florida State

  • Tournament seed: 4
  • District/Region: South Atlantic/VIII
  • Nickname: Raiders
  • Head coach: Bart Walker
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 27-2, 10-2 (first place FCSAA Panhandle Conference)

Top players: 

  • G Last-Tear Poa (14.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 2.9 apg.)
  • F Shelbee Brown (10.2 ppg., 7.2 rpg., 2.1 apg.)
  • F Ines Piper (9.3 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)

About the Raiders: The 2021 national champions are back in the national tournament for the sixth time in seven years after routing Indian River State College in the Region VIII championship game … Northwest Florida State was the No. 5 overall seed in the 2021 tournament as an at-large team before mowing through the field with four wins in four days, culminating with a title-game victory over Trinity Valley … The Raiders captured their eighth Panhandle Conference championship, their fourth straight and fifth title in the last 10 seasons … Northwest Florida State is an outstanding defensive team, ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense at 46.9 points per game allowed.

Wabash Valley College

  • Tournament seed: 5
  • District/Region: Midwest/XXIV
  • Nickname: Lady Warriors
  • Head coach: Luke Scheidecker
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 28-1, 14-0 (first place Great Rivers Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • G Daijah Smith (17.3 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 2.7 apg.) 
  • G Kiarah Carney (13.3 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 2.1 apg.)
  • G Shaulana Wagner (12.3 ppg., 5.0 rpg., 7.8 apg.)

About the Lady Warriors: After going through three coaches in three years, the Lady Warriors finally have some continuity at the top as Luke Scheidecker is in the second season of his second stint at the help of Wabash. He was previously the Lady Warriors’ head coach from 2016 to 2018. Scheidecker has led his team to the national tournament in all four years he has served as head coach …Wabash brings the top offense in the country in the tournament, averaging 89.8 points per game.

College of Southern Idaho

  • Tournament seed: 6
  • District/Region: Rocky Mountain/XVIII
  • Nickname: Golden Eagles
  • Head coach: Randy Rogers
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 30-2, 7-1 (first place, Scenic West Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • P Emilia Nworie (12.5 ppg.; 8.1 rpg.) 
  • G/F Ashlee Strawbridge (9.1 ppg., 5.3 rpg.)
  • G Sadie Gronning (8.9 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 2.2 apg.).

About the Golden Eagles: The Golden Eagles are in the national tournament for the second straight year and the second time since it moved to Lubbock for the 2016 season, ousting Snow College for the second straight year to win the Region 18 Championship, the 11th regional title in the program’s history … CSI lost to Georgia Highlands in the opening round of the tournament last season … Southern Idaho allows just 51.8 points per game defensively, which ranks ninth nationally … Golden Eagles head coach Randy Rogers is in his 20th season with the school.

Blinn College

  • Tournament seed: 7
  • District/Region: Mid-South/XIV
  • Nickname: Buccaneers
  • Head coach: Jeff Jenkins
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 28-4, 14-4 (tied first place Region XIV Conference)

Top players: 

  • G Telisha Brown (13.8 ppg., 4.7 apg.)
  • G Hannah Humphrey (11.7 ppg.)
  • F Tiffany Tullis (11.5 ppg., 10.7 rpg.)

About the Buccaneers: Head coach Jeff Jenkins is the winningest coach in Blinn College history. In 20 seasons he has compiled a 388-214 record and is leading the Lady Buccaneers to their first national tournament appearance since 2016. … Blinn tied perennial tournament contender Trinity Valley for first place in Region XIV and beat the Lady Cardinals in the regional tournament championship … Jenkins played collegiately at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and Howard Payne University in Brownwood.

Arizona Western College

  • Tournament seed: 8
  • District/Region: 
  • Nickname: Matadors
  • Head coach: Patrick Cunningham
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 29-2, 18-2 (first place Arizona Community College Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • C Alliance Ndiba (16.1 ppg., 12.2 rpg.)
  • G Tersea Da Silva (11.6 ppg., 4.3 rpg.)
  • C Christeina Bryan (10.3 ppg., 5.4 rpg.)

About the Matadors: For the first time in 20 years and only the second time in school history, Arizona Western is in the NJCAA national tournament. Its only other tournament appearance came in 2002 … The Lady Matadors program has been in existence for only 21 years, and Patrick Cunningham has been the head coach from Day 1, compiling 477 career victories … In his time leading the program, Cunningham has led Arizona Western to 21 winning seasons and 14 regional playoff appearances … Arizona Western at one point this season reeled off 24 straight victories.

South Georgia Technical College

  • Tournament seed: 9
  • District/Region: Southeast/XVII
  • Nickname: Lady Jets
  • Head coach: James Frey
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 26-6, 12-3 (second place Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association)

Top players: 

  • G Alexia Dizeko (14.4 ppg., 8.3 rpg.)
  • G Kamya Hollingshed (12.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg.)
  • F Fanta Gassama (10.1 ppg., 12.0 rpg.)

About the Lady Jets: The Lady Jets are in the national championships for the seventh time in nine years. This is the school’s eighth appearance in nationals overall (2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022), even though the 2020 tournament was canceled … South Georgia Tech is one of the top rebounding teams in the nation coming into the tournament, cleaning the glass at a rate of 47.1 boards per game.

Jones College

  • Tournament seed: 10
  • District/Region: Gulf/XXIII
  • Nickname: Lady Bobcats
  • Head coach: Missy Bilderback
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 22-87, 10-4 (fourth place Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference South Division)

Top players: 

  • G Jakayla Johnson (16.8 ppg., 3.0 apg.)
  • F Sakyia White (16.4 ppg., 11.0 rpg.)
  • G Meloney Thames (15.6 ppg., 2.6 apg.)

About the Lady Bobcats: Jones College is making its fifth appearance in the national championships. The Lady Bobcats are on a tremendous run after some conference struggles, going into the MACCC tournament as the No. 4 seed before reeling off seven straight wins, beating No. 1 seed Pearl River in the regional tournament title game.… Head coach Missy Bilderback is in her sixth season at the helm of Jones, leading the Lady Bobcats to 149 wins over the last four seasons and an 80-10 mark in MACJC South Division play.

Trinity Valley Community College

  • Tournament seed: 11
  • District/Region: Mid-South/XIV
  • Nickname: Lady Cardinals
  • Head coach: Precious Ivy
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 25-6, 14-1 (tied place NJCAA Region XIV)

Top players: 

  • G Abby Cater (13.5 ppg., 7,5 rpg.)
  • G Makiyah McCollister (13.4 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 2.6 apg.)
  • G Kaila Kelley (12.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg.)
  • G Niyah Page (12.0 ppg., 7,6 rpg.)

About the Lady Cardinals: Trinity Valley returns to the national tournament in search of its ninth national championship and first since winning back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 … This will be Trinity Valley’s 27th national tournament appearance, where it is 72-21 and has played in eighth of the last nine title games … Head coach Precious Ivy is in her second year as the head coach and has her team playing at a high level, ranking in the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 80.5 points per game.

Western Nebraska Community College

  • Tournament seed: 12
  • District/Region: Northwest Plains/IX
  • Nickname: Lions
  • Head coach: Chad Gibney
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 27-2, 11-0 (first place NJCAA Region IX-South Division)

Top players: 

  • G Ale’jah Douglas (18.1 ppg., 4.3 apg.)
  • G Amani Brown (12.1 ppg., 3.4 rpg.)
  • G Matrice Brooks (10.5 ppg., 4.2 rpg.)

About the Cougars: Head Coach Chad Gibney has the Cougars back in the national tournament for the sixth straight year, including all five of his seasons in charge of the Western Nebraska program. The Cougars are in as an at-large team after falling to Eastern Wyoming in the second around of the Region IX tournament … Western Nebraska once again is led by its offense, which ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring at 88.3 points per game while allowing just 56.2 per night.

South Plains College

  • Tournament seed: 13
  • District/Region: Southwest/V
  • Nickname: Lady Texans
  • Head coach: Ara Baten
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 20-8, 11-3 (third place Western Junior College Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • F Celia Sumbane (12.0 ppg., 6.54 rpg.)
  • F Ashley Moseberry (11.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg.)
  • G Raija Todd (10.6 ppg., 2.2 apg.) 

About the Lady Texans: The Lady Texans are in the national tournament for the fourth straight year and fifth time in the last six years after capturing their third straight Region V championship with a win over Clarendon College in the tournament final. This is the second straight year for SPC to make it to the nationals under head coach Ara Baten … The Lady Texans were bounced in the quarterfinals of the 2021 tournament by eventual champion Northwest Florida State. … South Plains is a solid defensive team, allowing 57.2 points per game.

Casper College

  • Tournament seed: 14
  • District/Region: Northwest Plains/IX
  • Nickname: Thunderbirds
  • Head coach: Dwight Gunnare
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 28-5, 10-0 (first place NJCAA Region IX-North Division)

Top players: 

  • G Joseana Vaz (12.9 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 2.0 apg.)
  • G Kate Robertson (11.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg.)
  • G Sandra Frau (7.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 4.5 apg.)

About the Cougars: In his 14th season as head coach at Casper College, head coach Dwight Gunnare leads the Thunderbirds into the national tournament for his sixth time. Casper, which was the No. 8 seed in 2021, has finished as high as fourth in 2010. Casper lost to Three Rivers in the opening round last season … The Thunderbirds come into the national tournament on a 16-game winning streak after capturing the Region IX title with a win over Eastern Wyoming College … Casper ranks 11th in the nation in 3-point shooting, hitting 34.6 percent per game.

Moberly Area Community College

  • Tournament seed: 15
  • District/Region: Central/XVI
  • Nickname: Lady Greyhounds
  • Head coach: Hana Haden
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 26-5, 12-3 (second place Missouri Community College Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • F Indya Green (19.1 ppg., 11.5 rpg.)
  • G McKenna Eddings (14.9 ppg., 2.4 apg.) 
  • F Jamila Nansikombi-Gunter (12.0 ppg., 7.8 rpg.)

About the Lady Greyhounds: Moberly Area is making its 17th national tournament appearance but only its fourth since 2005, when it finished seventh … The Lady Greyhounds were the No. 14 overall seed in the 2021 tournament and fell to in the opening round for the second straight time, this time to Eastern Arizona. Moberly was the No. 16 seed in 2020 before the tournament was canceled … Moberly Area captured the 1982 national championship but has not finished better than third since.

Chipola College

  • Tournament seed: 16
  • District/Region: South Atlantic/VIII 
  • Nickname: Lady Indians
  • Head coach: Greg Franklin
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 23-8, 7-6 (third place FCSAA Panhandle Conference)

Top players: 

  • G Jordan McLaughlin (15.9 ppg., 4.1 rpg.)
  • G Ta’Shonna Wright-Gaskins (13.1 ppg., 6.0 rpg.)
  • G/F Shimei Muhammad (12.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.)

About the Lady Indians: The 2015 national champions are in the tournament for just the second time since 2017. Chipola made it all the way to the semifinals in 2021 before falling to Trinity Valley … Chipola has struggled somewhat to end the season, dropping four of its last six games, including three of four to end the regular season … Chipola has tremendous balance between offense and defense, ranking in the top 30 in the country at 77.3 points per game offensively and 18th in the country at 56.1 points per game defensively.

Tyler Junior College

  • Tournament seed: 17
  • District/Region: Mid-South/XIV
  • Nickname: Apaches
  • Head coach: Trenia Tillis-Hoard
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 23-8, 13-5 (third place NJCAA Region XIV)

Top players: 

  • G Nadechka Laccen (15.2 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 3.4 apg.)
  • G Veonce Powell (14.3 ppg.)
  • G Taryn Wills (11.8 ppg., 5.0 rpg.)

About the Apaches: The Apaches are in the national tournament for the fifth time in six years and the second straight year, winning their first two games of the tournament before falling in the quarterfinals to Chipola Junior College … 22nd-year head coach Trenia Tillis-Hoard is a member of the Stephen F. Austin basketball Hall of Fame and earned her 500th career victory earlier this season … The Apaches have one of the top offenses in the country, averaging 78.8 points per game, which ranks in the top 15.

Eastern Florida State College

  • Tournament seed: 18
  • District/Region: South Atlantic/VIII
  • Nickname: Titans
  • Head coach: MJ Baker
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 26-4, 12-0 (first place FCSAA Central Conference)

Top players:

  • F Rapuluchi Ngorka (13.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg.)
  • G Shadaria Smith (12.3 ppg., 2.6 apg.)
  • G Kaitlyn Sanders (11.6 ppg., 3.3 apg.)

About the Titans: The rookies in this years’ tournament is Eastern Florida State College, which is making its first national tournament appearance in school history. The Titans earned an at-large berth after finishing in first place in the Central Conference of the Florida College System Activities Association before falling in the Region VIII tournament semifinals to Indian River State College … 2021 marks the third time since taking over in 2017 that head coach MJ Baker has led the Titans to a 20-plus-win season.

Hutchinson Community College

  • Tournament seed: 19
  • District/Region: Plains/VI
  • Nickname: Blue Dragons
  • Head coach: John Ontjes
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 28-5, 19-5 (tied first place Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference West Division)

Top players: 

  • G Mya Williams (18.8 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 2.2 apg.)
  • G Tor’e Alford (13.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.8 apg.)
  • G Mele Kailaho (11.56 ppg, 8.3 rpg., 2.2 apg.)

About the Blue Dragons: This will be the 11th appearance in the national tournament for the Blue Dragons, who have finished runner-up three times (2012, 2014 and 2015) and are 19-11 at the national tournament … The Blue Dragons reached the semifinals of the 2019 tournament before falling to New Mexico Junior College. … Head coach John Ontjes played at Hutchinson from 1992 to 1993 … The Blue Dragons earned the automatic berth by capturing their first Region VI championship since 2018.

North Dakota State College of Science (SCS)

  • Tournament seed: 20
  • District/Region: North Central/XIII
  • Nickname: Wildcats
  • Head coach: Adam Jacobson
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 30-2, 20-1 (first place Mon-Dak Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • PG Ivane Tensaie (20.9 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 4.7 apg.)
  • G Ambah Kowcun (19.3 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 3.9 apg.)
  • C Arthel Massaquoi (13.0 ppg., 7.2 rpg.)

About the Wildcats: North Dakota State SCS is making the sixth national tournament appearance in school history and fourth appearance in six years. The Wildcats also made the tournament in 1996, 2003 and 2018 and qualified in 2020 before the tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19 … North Dakota SCS is on a good roll heading into the national tournament, having won 11 straight and 20 of its last 21 games … The Wildcats have dropped their opening-round game the last two times they’ve been in the national tournament, falling to Shelton State in 2017 and Walters State in 2018.

Murray State College

  • Tournament seed: 21
  • District/Region: South Central/II
  • Nickname: Aggies
  • Head coach: Steve Lowe
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 27-5, 14-2 (tied first place Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • F Alena Wilson (15.1 ppg., 7.3 rpg.)
  • G Alaijah Stewart (13.6 ppg., 2.5 rpg.)
  • G Briana Knabe (11.6 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 4.0 apg.)

About the Aggies: The Aggies are back in the NJCAA national tournament for the second time in three years after beating OCAC co-champion Eastern Oklahoma State in the Region II title game … Head coach Steve Lowe leads the Aggies into the national tournament for the second time in his tenure after taking over the program prior to the 2019-2020 season … Murray State has one of the top offenses in the country, ranking 10th in the nation in scoring at 79.4 points per game.

Walters State Community College

  • Tournament seed: 22
  • District/Region: Appalachian/VII
  • Nickname: Lady Senators
  • Head coach: Jasmin Coleman
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 19-6, 14-1 (first place Tennessee Community College Athletic Association)

Top players: 

  • C Kiera Hill (19.1 ppg., 9.7 rpg.)
  • G/F Gemariona Hollingsworth (9.9 ppg., 4.0 rpg.)
  • G Ryann Woodley (7.4 ppg., 3.2 apg.)

About the Lady Senators: Walters State is making an appearance in the national championships for the 18th time in school history, including 13 of the last 15 seasons and three of the last four after missing in 2020 … After serving as the interim head coach in 2020-21 following the retirement of legendary head coach Dave Kragel, Jasmin Coleman has the Lady Senators rolling in her first full year as the head coach … The Lady Senators fell in the opening round last year to Tyler Junior College … Walters State has one of the top defenses in the nation, allowing just 50.3 points per game.

New Mexico Junior College

  • Tournament seed: 23
  • District/Region: Southwest/V
  • Nickname: Lady Thunderbirds
  • Head coach: Austin Mefford
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 26-4, 12-2 (first place Western Junior College Athletic Conference)

Top players: 

  • G Precious Cowan (12.2 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 3.8 rpg.)
  • F Danna Grenald (11.3 ppg., 9.4 rpg)
  • G Delma Zita (10.1 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 3.1 apg.)

About the Lady Thunderbirds: The Lady Thunderbirds enter the national tournament as an at-large team after finishing first in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and falling in the Region V Tournament semifinals to South Plains College … Head coach Austin Mefford is in his first season at the helm of the Lady Thunderbirds after two seasons at tradition-rich Seward County Community College … This is NMJC’s eighth trip to the national tournament in the last 15 seasons ninth appearance in school history.

Monroe College

  • Tournament seed: 24
  • District: Northeast/XV
  • Nickname: Mustangs
  • Head coach: Dana Warner
  • 2021-22 Record/Finish: 14-14, 2-0 (first place NJCAA Region XV)

Top players: 

  • G/F Olivia Medford (13.2 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 2.9 spg.)
  • G/F Naomi Barnwell (11.9 ppg., 8.1 rpg., 2.5 apg.)
  • G Daja Wentz (11.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 3.0 apg.)

About the Mustangs: The Mustangs are back in the NJCAA national tournament for the first time in five years, last qualifying in 2017. Monroe earned the automatic berth into the national tournament by going 2-0 against Region XV rival ASA College of New York, thus negating the need for a regional tournament … This is the first trip to the nationals under current head coach Dana Warner, who took over the program prior to the 2018-19 season. Prior to becoming the head coach of the women’s program, Warner spent 10 years as an assistant for the Mustang’s men’s basketball program.