FENTON FEATURE: Undefeated Massasoit Women Win Region 21 Championship

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By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise

BROCKTON -- For just the second time in program history, the Massasoit Community College women's basketball team is headed to the national tournament.

The undefeated Warriors will play in the eight-team National Junior College Athletic Association Division 3 tourney in Rockford, Illinois starting March 12 after winning the Region 21 championship on Sunday afternoon.

Massasoit, ranked No. 2 in the nation at 24-0, defeated the University of Connecticut Avery Point, 97-85, at the Peter Asiaf Field House with tournament most valuable player Ty Hawkins scoring 36 points.

The victory over the Pointers (19-9) came one year after UCAP upset Massasoit in the regional championship game, and the Warriors need three more wins for a national title.

"It's something we'll never forget the rest of our lives,″ said Hawkins, who made 15 of 16 foul shots with 13 in a row. "We are undefeated, won the regions and now we're going to the nationals. I know it's going to be fun.″

Massasoit, with just one returning player from a team that was 20-3 a year ago, led UCAP by as many as 28 points in the second half and held a 91-64 advantage with 7:16 remaining.

The Pointers later went on a 14-0 run and had the Warriors' lead down to 94-85 with a minute to go, but three foul shots sealed Massasoit's championship in coach Mark Leszczyk's second season.

The only other Region 21 title for the Warriors came in 2014 against Roxbury Community College, which was coached by Leszczyk. Massasoit is now 2-5 in regional championship games.

"It's great for the school, great for our athletic director, Julie Mulvey,″ said Leszczyk, who won a national title while at Roxbury. "The community came out for us and it's good for Brockton as well.

"The expectation now is to win the whole thing. We also set the goal of putting ourselves in a position to win the national championship. Now that we've done that, we plan on winning the whole thing.″

Hawkins, who is averaging 31.6 points per game, scored 17 points in the first half when Massasoit held a 53-36 lead, then added 19 more in the final 20 minutes. She continued taking the ball to the basket and was getting to the line.

"I just wanted to win,″ said Hawkins, a transfer from Jones County Junior College in Mississippi. "Anything I can do to help the team, I'll do. It doesn't matter what it is. Winning is big for us. We're doing it for everybody. We just wanted this.″

Shardajah Collins, who also made the all-tournament team, had 13 points while Mataya Young, an all-tourney team selection, and Adrianna Grant scored 12 points each and Aliza Bell scored 11.

UCAP's Abby Stone (34 points) and Rebekah Sanders (28) made the all-tourney team after combining for 62 of the Pointers' 85 points.

Massasoit trailed, 6-4, less than two minutes into the game, then scored 11 straight points and was never behind again. Four different players scored in the run with Ranasha Fraizer scoring two baskets.

The Warriors held a 26-17 lead after one quarter, and Hawkins scored 12 of her points in the second quarter when the advantage went to 17 at the break.

Hawkins scored six of her eight points in the third quarter at the foul line, helping the Warriors build a 77-49 lead before UCAP got within 81-62 going into the final 10 minutes.

An offensive rebound conversion by Hawkins with 7:16 to go put Massasoit in front, 91-64, and with the Pointers trailing by 23 with under six minutes to play, then scored those 14 unanswered points, Stone and Sanders getting 12 of them.

Massasoit had too big of a lead, however, and is heading to Illinois as the only undefeated team in the Division 3 tournament.

"We love each other and we love playing with each other,″ said Hawkins. "Everything we do is for each other. That's pretty much why we've been able to do what we've done this season.″

Leszczyk and assistant coach Kassy Ayanbeku of Randolph, who were on the bench together at Roxbury, have been to the nationals six times and won in 2016. Lexi Udoji of Randolph, a Cardinal Spellman High graduate, is enjoying success in her first season as an assistant coach.

"Did I know that we had a team that could compete for a national championship? Absolutely,″ said Leszczyk. "It's the kind of kids we recruit. We recruit winners. These kids just get along. They just seem to bond. They got it done and their great students. There's no extra outside baggage which can wear a team down. We've never had any off court issues.″

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.