April 21, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – GRCC’s women’s basketball team struggled in the opening round of the NJCAA D2 National Tournament, losing 86-49 to the top-ranked team in the country.
The Raiders’ season isn’t over, as the team will play again at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 23 in the consolation round.
A bright spot: GRCC head coach David Glazier was named Coach of the Year in the District C, National Junior College Athletic Association Great Lakes Conference.
GRCC is making its first trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament for the first time since 1978.
The 12-4 Raiders were seeded 13th and faced a tough opening round opponent. Johnson County Community College, from Overland Park, Kan., is 20-1 on the season and was seeded fourth in the tournament.
GRCC hung close in the first and fourth quarters, but were dominated mid-game. The Johnson County defense smothered Player of the Year Shonyah Hawkins, limiting her to six points and two rebounds.
Eurasia Green-Boyd led the Raiders with 13 points and seven rebounds, and Danielle Lamancusa had 11 points and six boards. Jayla Bibbs had eight points and five rebounds.
GRCC is hoping to regroup in the next round, playing the winner of the game between Pima Community College and North Platte-Mid-Plains Community College on Friday.