Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

March 10, 2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

Women’s basketball returns to nationals

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College women’s basketball team has made it to the Big Dance.  The Lady Cavaliers defeated LSU-Eunice, 83-64 on Saturday afternoon, advancing them to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, the team’s sixth trip in nine years.  The tournament is hosted by  Illinois Central College in Peoria, Ill., March 19-22.   The win over LSU-Eunice is the 26th of the season for the Lady Cavaliers (26-8), which is school record.

Head coach Debbie Carrier also remained unbeaten at home in District Championship play, improving to 6-0 in her 12-year career.   She stands 29-8 all-time in postseason play, including an 11-5 mark at the national tournament.

All five starters finished in double figure scoring, led by sophomore Brittney Slifer and sophomore Bethany Schwab with 19 and 18 points respectively.  Schwab hit 6-of-11 from 3-point range, and Slifer was 5-of-9 from that range.  As a team, JCCC was 15-of-30 from 3-point range.

Sophomore Meghan Waggoner and freshman Danielle Shows each had a double-double.  Waggoner had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Shows finished with 10 points and a career high 21 rebounds.   Sophomore Heather Rourk added 10 points and blocked three shots.

JCCC built a slim six-point lead at halftime, but left little doubt in the second half, outscoring the Lady Tigers by 13 points. 

The Lady Cavaliers reached the District title game by defeating North Arkansas College in the semifinal round on Friday night, 82-53.  JCCC again used a strong second half to put the game out of reach.  Leading by nine at halftime, JCCC outscored the Lady Pioneers by 20 in the second half.

Waggoner and Rourk led JCCC in scoring, each finishing with 17 points.  Waggoner was 7-of-12  from the field, with 3-of-4 from 3-point range.  Rourk hit 5-of-6 shots, including a pointer, and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line.  Freshman Amanda Dittmer came in off the bench to pour in 15 points, matching her career high.  She hits 6-of-8 shots, including 3-of4 from 3- point range.  Slifer and Schwab, the two top 3-point shooters in the program’s history, each nailed three 3-pointers.  Slifer finished with 11 points, Schwab with nine. The team was 13-of-31 from the 3-point arch.