Women’s Basketball plays top seed Monroe tonight
HARRISON, AR – One game down. One game at a time. That’s been the attitude for the ICC Women’s Basketball team throughout their time in Harrison, Arkansas for the national tournament. Who stands in their way could be their toughest game yet. They would be the first-seeded Tribunes of Monroe Community College.
Monroe has been to this stage before. In fact, their program has made it to the National Semifinals the last four consecutive years. Neither team has lost a neutral game this season, with the Cougars being (6-0) and the Tribunes being (12-0), both records counting the national tournament.
The Tribunes feature two of the taller, or perhaps tallest, players in the tournament. Those being Khady Sarr (6’3″ freshman) and Jaynelle Robinson (6’3″ sophomore). ICC Head Coach Karrie Redeker believes they will certainly factor into the quarterfinal game.
“They’re very athletic for their size. They move up and down the floor well. They’re just another dimension that we’re going to have to guard.”
The Tribunes also pride themselves on their three-point shooting. Sierra Green, a 5’8″ sophomore for Monroe, is 146 for 403 from behind the arc, while ICC as a team is 114-386 as a team. Redeker says their shooting from distance will be another thing of importance, adding “that’s where they’re really dangerous.”
One may think playing a one seed could be intimidating for some. Not the Cougars. ICC is well-prepared for this match-up. Redeker added that, essentially, a seed is just a number.
“To us, a seed just determines what color uniforms you’re wearing. Seeds get thrown out the window and it’s whoever’s the best team after 40 minutes tonight.”
Monroe has had a lot of recent success, making it to the National Semifinals each of the last four consecutive years. They’re especially hungry for a trip to the National Championship game, because, according to Tribunes Head Coach Tim Parrinello, they lost by four points in last year’s semifinal, and they’ve used that as a big motivational factor into their play this season. On the other side for ICC, they have won six national championships, but the last one was 12 years ago in 2006. Coach Redeker talked about how “it is kind of an old dog against a new dog”, but does say that they’re “excited” nonetheless. Redeker went on to say that defensive play will be key in this one as well.
In the 87-81 win over Ancilla, the Cougars had four in double figures, paced by Bailey Larsen’s 17 points, while Kellyn Maynard had 14, and Madison Faulkner and Jasmine Levy had 12 points each. In Monroe’s 78-43 win over 16-seed Harcum, Lanay Rodney (5’8″ sophomore) had a 25-point effort, and just missed a double-double, bringing in nine rebounds as well. She could certainly be a player to watch in this one.
Another point that Coach Redeker has appreciated and even some from the outside have been saying is the presence on ICC’s bench. Players almost losing voices encouraging their teammates in a positive or negative situation is a site that all fans can like.
The winner will play the winner of Mesa against Owens in the National Semifinal at 8:00 pm Friday. Loser of ICC-Monroe plays Mesa-Owens’ loser Friday at 3:00 pm.
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