Pronghorn women headed to NJCAA tournament as the No. 22 seed, will play in the first round next Wednesday
By PRESTON ZBROSZCZYK NEWS RECORD SPORTS EDITOR preston@gillettenewsrecord.net
The Pronghorn women's basketball team will be in Louisiana next week for the NJCAA DI National Tournament.
After winning the Region IX tournament on Saturday, the team returned to Gillette to find out who they'll be playing in the first round.
Gillette College hosted a watch party for the tournament selection show Monday evening at the Pronghorn Center, as the players waited to find out who their opponent would be.
Gulf Coast State College, a team from Panama City, Florida, went 21-7 this season.
For the Pronghorns to make it to this level in just their third season back is amazing, said Gillette College Athletic Director Janie Rayback.
"Seeing just in three years getting to this point, where we're now going to the national tournament and representing Gillette, representing our community, it is something that is really special for all of us here," she said.
The Pronghorns went through an emotional weekend in Rock Springs, playing three games in three days. They beat Laramie County Community College, 79-63.
They then beat Western Wyoming in their own gym in double overtime, 82-80, and in the final they took down Northwest College, 80-73, as they cut down the nets. Sophomore Rochelle Afo-Manuma was named tournament MVP.
In the Pronghorns Region IX title game, all five starters, Afo-Manuma, Lina Ballin, Georgina Sosa Sio, Danea Asiata, and Kiyarra Williams, all scored in double figures.
Afo-Manuma recorded 11 points, 13 rebounds, and Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds. As a team, the Pronghorns shot 52.9% from the field and 48.4% from three-point range.
It was a full-team effort in the win, and Lewis credited Kinsley Plewe, who came off the bench to make "one of the biggest three-point shots of the season."
In their quest to cut down the nets in Rock Springs, Gillette College averaged 82 points per game, shot 45.5% from the field, and each starter averaged more than 10 points per game.
In the tournament, Afo-Manuma averaged 16.7 ppg and 12.5 rebounds per game, recording a double-double in three of the four games. Ballin averaged a team-high 22.7 points per game. Williams added 13.2 a game, Sosa Sio scored 11.5 points and Asiata had 11.7 points per game.
"Kind of coming off an emotional high, we are all getting through it," Afo-Manuma said. "We leaned on each other and believed in our team. It was easy to get excited, but we knew the job wasn't done."
Tournament awards
Along with the win, Gillette College had a number of players recognized for their contribution to the team's tournament win.
In addition to being named tournament MVP, Afo-Manuma was also named to the All Region IX North Team, and the Region IX All-Tournament Team, as was Ballin.
Williams, another freshman, also made the Region IX All-Tournament Team. Ever since the injury to Addysyn Bayne, Williams has stepped up for the Pronghorns.
And Asiata was named to the All Region IX Defensive Team.
Now the team enters unfamiliar territory: preparing for the national tournament.
"I know we are all excited, just knowing we get to continue to work this week, and we look forward to representing Gillette and doing our best at nationals," Afo-Manuma said.