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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Under new coach, CFCC women clinch conference title

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By Elizabeth Weaver 

Intern

With another dominating performance on Saturday, the Cape Fear Community College women’s basketball team clinched the Region 10 regular season title as the nationally ranked team now readies itself for a run in the conference tournament that could carry it to the national championship.

By beating Patrick Henry Community College 72-49, the Sea Devils team moves its record to 18-1 and is now ranked 11th in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Top 20. The Sea Devils have won 18 straight after dropping their season opener and have a perfect 10-0 record in their conference.

Led by first-year head coach Chris Harris, the Sea Devils first entered the rankings on Dec. 16 and have moved up steadily as the wins mounted. Harris, who comes to CFCC from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, said his players have found success through a diverse set of skills.

“We have a really great group of girls here and each one of them brings something to the team that the other one doesn’t. We don’t have one player that necessarily carries the team,” Harris said. “We try not to get too ahead of ourselves because while winning is the goal we need to take it day by day to prepare for that tournament and I’m confident we will get there.”

As the team prepares for the conference tournament in March, sophomore guards Monica Alexander and Shaniya McLaughlin expressed their excitement for the success they’ve had this season.

“I feel great. There is nothing like winning, because I hate losing,” said McLaughlin, who is averaging 3.3 points per game. “My team has all the potential to win every game.”

Alexander, who is contributing 10.9 points per game, said that teamwork is helping to define the squad’s success.

“We have been successful so far because we stick together as a whole,” Alexander said. “It feels incredible to have the winning streak that we have.”

Sophomore forward Jasmine Brown leads the team with 12.9 points per game, while freshman forward Destiny Campbell is contributing 11.4 points per game.

Harris, who has been coaching for 20 years, took over for former head coach Lori Drake last August. The players said they have adjusted to the new coaching style, as the winning streak demonstrates their enthusiasm for his leadership.

“As a returning player, it’s been a spin, because not only was I adjusting to the coach’s expectations but he’s also been learning every one of us as a new coach to the program,” McLaughlin said. “So, it was a process for everyone, but we got it.”

Saturday’s game ended the team’s home schedule, but the team must still complete a five-game road trip over the course of the next two weeks, including games at Wake Technical Community College and Brunswick Community College, the last conference game of the season. The Sea Devils will then compete in the Region 10 tournament March 3-5 in Bolivia, North Carolina. Success there could send the team to the NJCAA Division II national championship tournament.

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