By EAC Staff
The Eastern Arizona College (EAC) women’s basketball team made a powerful statement in the first round of the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament, securing a 92-57 victory over Olive-Harvey on Wednesday. With this win, the Lady Monsters advanced to the next round and set a tournament high in points scored and the largest margin of victory so far.
EAC’s dominance was evident throughout the game. They shot an impressive 35-for-67 from the field and controlled the boards with 57 rebounds. The team also showcased strong perimeter shooting, going 12-for-19 from beyond the arc. Their ball movement was on display as they tallied 19 assists, though they will look to tighten up their ball security after committing 13 turnovers.
Stephany Goncalves led the charge for the Lady Monsters, earning the Jersey Mike’s Subs Player of the Game honor with a stellar performance. She contributed 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out five assists, proving to be a key player in the team’s overwhelming offensive and defensive effort.
Pima’s own Ashlynn Chlarson struggled but still finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds. Celestine Segretain was huge off the bench early on and finished with 12 points on 5-6 shooting (including 1-1 from deep).
Eanae Dagons guided the Gila Monsters throughout the game, setting up herself and teammates with penetration dribbling. Dagons finished with 11 points on 5-7 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.
With this momentum, EAC now turns its attention to a challenging matchup against #7 McLennan on Friday, March 28, at 11:15 a.m. McLennan is riding high after upsetting #3 New Mexico Junior College 63-61 in the Region Championship, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense battle. All games are aired on ESPN+
