Before they even played their first game, Head Coach Delwyn Jones knew he had a unique lineup of players on the women’s basketball team. Not only did they boast an impressive overall 34-3 record, but earned two championships and finished as the eighth best team in the country.
Finishing eighth among all NJCAA Division II teams in the country is an accomplishment and the result of the seventh place final game with Wayne County Community College (Detroit, MI).
Of all the teams competing at the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship, Moraine Valley had the fortune to face a rival they’re familiar with. In the second game of the consolation round, the Cyclones met Region IV rival South Suburban College, defeating the Bulldogs for a second time this season, 78-66.
The Cyclones looked more like their old selves in their first round of consolation play today. They took a solid 74-59 victory from Niagara County Community College from New York.
In their first game at the national tournament, the Cyclones were dealt a tough 93-92 loss in the final five seconds of their matchup with Lackawanna College.
For the second time in three years, the Cyclones (32-1) are headed to Arkansas to compete in the NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship. Moraine Valley defeated McHenry County College (22-10) 89-70 in the Region IV finals last night to advance to the Big Dance.
Another surging third quarter helped the Cyclones continue their impressive season as they took a dominating 100-61 victory over Illinois Valley Community College in the NJCAA Region IV semifinals.
The Cyclones started their playoff run as intensely as they’ve played all season. The No. 1 seed faced No. 8 seed Black Hawk College in the NJCAA Region IV quarterfinals, coming out ahead 102-45.
The only way these Cyclones know how to play ball is by making a statement. They closed out the regular season with a 120-72 victory over conference rival Waubonsee Community College at home.
Ashley Hunter continues to break records while helping her team win this year. Last night, she became the second all-time leading scorer in Moraine Valley women’s basketball history. The No. 3 Cyclones solidly defeated College of Lake County 72-39, but the real excitement came from Hunter. She tallied 20 points to surpass LaVetta Mitchell’s record 1,051 career points.
When the No. 3 Cyclones faced another nationally ranked team, they did what they’ve done all season, played good ball and tacked on their 26th consecutive victory, tying the program record from 1984-85.
Even with a handful of games to go, the Cyclones have already ticked off one accomplishment—a conference crown. Moraine Valley earned its 10th Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship, thanks to a 12-0 record, in an 83-62 win over the Morton College Panthers.
When the pressure is on, the Cyclones resort to what they know best—playing good basketball. Moraine Valley faced the always challenging Kankakee Community College Cavaliers, expecting to put up a good fight. They ended up with a 15-point win.
The nationally ranked Cyclones were able to maintain their dominance despite a tight first half, taking a 77-63 victory from the visiting McHenry County College Scots.
For the first time in Moraine Valley women’s basketball history, the team has been ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA Division II, the highest they’ve climbed the chart to date.
These Cyclones are good, and now the proof is in the ranking. The NJCAA Division II put out a poll moving up the women’s basketball team to No. 5 in the nation, the highest the program has been since the 1984-85 season.
Scoring 100-plus points is becoming more of a trend for this tough Cyclone squad. Their 109-42 win over Malcolm X College was the fifth big win this season and second game in a row where they jumped out quickly and rode the momentum to a huge win.
After moving up in the NJCAA Division II ranks from No. 12 to No. 7, the Cyclones continued to demonstrate their force with a hefty 93-47 victory over College of DuPage.
When Wright College came to the Cyclone Center, they had won nine of their last 10 games. And then they faced the Cyclones, who sealed a 10th straight victory and fourth scoring more than 100 points.
Watch out for these Cyclones…that’s what opponents are going to start saying. It’s still early in the season, but the NJCAA Division II No. 12 Cyclones have already knocked down three nationally ranked teams, including their toughest opponent to date—No. 7 St. Louis Community College—in an 83-75 victory.