2000 NJCAA Division II National Champions

Johnson County Community College earned it first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in the 1999-2000 season, and when the tournament was complete, the Cavaliers were national champions. Johnson County completed its run through the Division II tournament Saturday night, March 17, with a 63-61 victory over Monroe Community College of Rochester, N.Y., in the title game in Hagerstown, Md.

Johnson County struggled from the field, just as it did in their 72-69 semifinal victory over Shelton State, but made up for it at the free throw line. JCCC made just 16 of 41 shots in the title game, but hit 19 of 24 free throws. Monroe hit just eight of 21 from the line.

Sophomore Kate DeBaun, who set two tournament records in the semifinal win hitting 14 of 14 free throws, hit all four attempts in the championship against Monroe, including two with seven seconds remaining. Her two free throws gave JCCC a two-point advantage. DeBaun finished the three-game tournament going 20 for 20 from the line, setting a third tournament record for most consecutive free throws made.

Sophomore Angie Dinkel paced JCCC with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Katie Bollegar, who was named the tournament's MVP, followed with 14 points and five rebounds. DeBaun added 10 points and four assists. JCCC finished its season at 22-13. All three were selected to the all-tournament team.

Bollegar opened the tournament with a 20 point effort. She added nine points and seven rebounds in the semifinal win over Shelton State. Bollegar averaged 14.3 points over the three games in the tournament.

DeBaun, who set three NJCAA D-II women's tournament records, averaged 13.7 points. She poured in 23 points in JCCC's semifinal win over Shelton State, matching her career high.

Dinkel averaged 14 points and 8.3 rebounds in three tournament games, and led JCCC in scoring in both the quarterfinal win over South Suburban and the championship win over Monroe, scoring 16 in each contest.

"I give both Kate and Angie a lot of credit," head coach Debbie Carrier said. "They did a great job of leading this team both on and off the floor."

While JCCC ended the season on the highest of highs, it wasn't like that all season. There were moments during the season when the team struggled, but that's when the character of this team came out according to Dinkel.

"This group was so much more dedicated than last year," Dinkel said. "We set a goal of winning nationals our first day together, and even during our down times, we still remained focused and were determined to have a good season, no matter how hard we had to work at it."

Winning a national title seemed improbable for the Cavaliers who lost 10 players from the 1998-99 campaign. But with the leadership of Dinkel and DeBaun, along with the talents of eight new freshman, Carrier was confident about winning the title early in the season.

"Many of our players come from winning programs and know what to do," Carrier said. "All year long our goal was to get to nationals and win the title."

Head coach Debbie Carrier was selected the NJCAA Division II Women's Coach of the Year.