Suns Claim District Title, Headed to National Tournament

JOLIET, Ill. – The Sun is shining brightly on Dallas College Cedar Valley women's basketball team.

The seventh-ranked Suns beat host Joliet Junior College, 75-61, Friday night to capture the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III Central District championship. The win sends Cedar Valley to the NJCAA Division III National Tournament March 13-16 in Rochester, Minnesota.

The Suns (17-5) punched their second ticket to the national tournament – the first coming in the 2019-20 season. It is the second district title for the Suns – the first a 63-62 win over Prince George's Community College (Md.) in 2020.

Cedar Valley matched a program record for consecutive wins (10), and extended its school record for victories in a season.

Deja Thomas had 25 points, eight steals, six assists and five rebounds. She was 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Mia Thomas had 18 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals. Precious Jackson-Sanders had 12 points. 10 rebounds, two steals and a block.

The Suns outscored Joliet, 22-13, in the second quarter and 22-11 in the third. Joliet (14-16) cut into the 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but Cedar Valley never relinquished the lead.

Carmela Hayden had eight points, nine assists and two steals. Ciana Fudzie had seven points, 10 boards and two blocks.

The Suns shot 48 percent from the field, and knocked down 9 of 24 threes. They went 14-for-17 from the free throw line.

Cedar Valley will learn its national tournament first round opponent during the NJCAA Selection Show 2 p.m. CT Wednesday on the NJCAA Network.