Suns Knock Off Onondaga to Reach National Semifinals
ROCHESTER, Minn. – Dallas College Cedar Valley women's basketball team beat No. 2 nationally-ranked Onondaga Community College, 78-61, in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III quarterfinals at Rochester Community & Technical College Fieldhouse Thursday night.
The sixth-seeded Suns (19-5) advanced to Friday's 7 p.m. CT semifinals to play host Rochester (22-4).
It marks the second time the Suns advanced to the national semifinals – the first coming in 2019-20.
Cedar Valley sprinted out to a 17-6 lead on Keely Burks' basket at the 3:17 mark in the first quarter. That was part of an 11-0 run for the Suns. Cedar Valley led 24-12 after the opening period. The Suns extended their lead to 17 on Carmela Hayden's three-pointer 2:53 into the second quarter. Taylor Elam's jump shot 3:25 before halftime gave the Suns a 33-14 advantage.
Cedar Valley held Onondaga (28-3) to no field goals in the second period. The Suns outscored the Lazers, 13-6, in the quarter – all of Onondaga's points coming on free throws. The Lazers were 0 of 15 from the floor in the period. Onondaga did not attempt a 3-pointer in the first half.
The Suns led 37-18 at halftime.
The Lazers opened the second half with a 13-3 run, cutting the deficit to nine on Kate Grainger's 3 at the 5:23 mark. Mia Thomas and Ciana Fudzie both scored on Cedar Valley's next two possessions to push the lead back to 13. Precious Gabriel knocked down a field goal, and sank two free throws as Onondaga cut it to nine again. Following a bucket by Precious Jackson-Sanders, Ryleigh Endres drained a 3 as the Lazers pulled within 49-41 in the last minute of the third quarter. Jackson-Sanders scored on a feed from Elam with six seconds left in the period to send the Suns into the fourth leading, 51-41.
Cedar Valley scored the first 10 points in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 20. Onondaga drew within 14 after back-to-back 3s by Endres and Briana Weaver. But Jackson-Sanders scored on a layup, and the Suns sank eight of nine free throws during a 2:13 span to put the game away.
Jackson-Sanders finished with 20 points, 12 boards, five steals and a block. Hayden had 20 points, going 15-for-16 from the free throw line. Deja Thomas had 10 points and four steals. Mia Thomas had eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Elam had seven points, six rebounds and a block. Fudzie had five points, seven boards and three blocks.
Sarah Hirschler, Endres and Grainger all scored 12 points for the Lazers, who committed 30 turnovers.
Cedar Valley outrebounded Onondaga, 49-38. The Suns had 17 steals, compared to four for the Lazers. Cedar Valley had 18 second chance points to Onondaga's eight. The Suns outscored the Lazers, 16-8, in the paint.
Follow Friday's semifinal action on the NJCAA Network or live stats.