Knights Seeded Number Two, Earn First Round Bye at National Tournament
The CCBC Essex Women's Basketball team earned their spot to compete in the NJCAA DII Women's Basketball Tournament, selected as the two-seed, and collecting a first-round bye. This marks the fifth consecutive trip to the tournament for the Knights, showcasing their incredible consistency and sustained excellence since the restart of the program in 2019. As they enter the tournament, the Knights are aiming for their first championship appearance since their 2023 National Championship run. Having reached the Final Four in their previous four trips, they have proven time and again that they are a dominant force in the competition.
The stats will prove the offensive power of the Knights, as they average 96.1 points per game, first in the nation. They are also 10th in field goal percentage (43.2), first in field goal attempts (2577), first in 3-point attempts (1164), first in 3-pointers made (382), tied for seventh in 3-point percentage (32.8), tied for 8th in assists per game (18.9) fifth in offensive rebounds per game (19.9) and defensive rebounds per game (31.5), putting them at second with 51.4 rebounds per game.
With their rich history of success and a roster full of talented players, the Knights are more than ready to make a push for the title, hoping to add another unforgettable chapter to their storied program. This year, the Knights are led by sophomore transfers Gigi Gamble and Paige Smith. Both enter the tournament with over 1,000 career points, Gamble hitting the mark on sophomore night against the Montgomery Raptors on February 28th, and Smith doing so the first game of the Region 20 tournament against the Hagerstown Hawks.
Gamble is fourth in the nation in points per game (22.5), 13th in total points scored with 586, and second in 3-point percentage (46.0). Gamble and Smith are just the beginning of the story for this year's Knights. Smith was named the Region 20 tournament MVP just over a week ago. Another sophomore transfer for the Knights is Antionique Auston, a two-way player that makes a big time impact, which was on display in the Region 20 tournament.
The depth of the Knights is evident when you watch them play. Freshman Astou Diongue is 17th in field goal percentage (59.2), coming off the bench for the Knights. Returners Tyasia Williams and Anylah Davis have also been coming off the bench for the Knights. They are looking to take their experience from the tournament last year and help push the Knights to another title run.
The Knights come into this year's tournament with an outstanding 30-1 overall record and an undefeated record in region and conference play. Their only blemish of the season came on February 1st against Union College, seeded five in the tournament. If the two teams meet up again, it won't happen unless both teams win their first three games of the tournament, making it to the title game.
Other contenders in the field this year that the Knights faced during the regular season include #7 Lake Land, #14 Bryant & Stratton (VA), and #16 SUNY Niagara. The Knights beat the Lakers of Lake Land College in the semifinals of the SC4 ThumbCoast Tip Off Classic 68-65 on November 15th, during an early, rough stretch playing four games in five days, all on the road, including going on to win the tournament the next day against Harcum. They hosted the Bryant & Stratton Bobcats on December 15th during the CCBC Essex Mixer. The Knights won 92-63 to close out the first half of the season. The Knights played the SUNY Niagara Thunderwolves at a neutral site the day after losing to Union, getting back to their winning ways in a hard fought game 73-63.
With the first round, the Knights will face the #15 St. Clair County Community College Skippers in the second round, who defeated #18 Lake County Community College 75-70 in their opening game on March 17th. The Knights will be eager to settle in and make a strong statement in their first game, asserting that they are here to make a serious run at the championship. The game is scheduled for 9PM ET at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.