Women's basketball wins Region XXI title; returns to NJCAA National Championships

03/06/2023

Sophomore guard Chloe Rayko (Coventry, RI) tied a season-high with seven three-pointers and sophomore center Maggie Schwab (North Kingstown, RI) finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Community College of Rhode Island women’s basketball repeated as NJCAA Division III Region XXI champions Sunday with a 71-50 win over Massasoit Community College in the tournament finals at the Warwick Field House.

The No. 1 three-point shooter in the nation in NJCAA Division III this season, Rayko connected seven times from beyond the arc for a game-high 23 points while Schwab registered her 16th double-double of the season as the Knights surged in the third and fourth quarters to pull away down the stretch. The No. 7 nationally-ranked Knights, who entered the tournament’s No. 1 seed, are now heading back to the NJCAA D-III National Championships in Rochester, MN, for the second year in a row.

Seeding will be announced during the NJCAA D-III Women’s Basketball Selection Show streaming live on the NJCAA Network Wednesday, March 8 at 3 pm. The tournament runs from March 15–18.

Sunday’s win over second-seeded Massasoit marked the third time the Knights defeated the Warriors in 2022-23. CCRI’s regional dominance over the past two seasons is unmatched; including postseason play, the Knights 22-0 against regional opponents since the 2021-22 season. In this year’s tournament semifinals, the Knights routed Bristol Community College 106-24 for their 20th win of the season and enter the NJCAAs 21-6 overall.

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