Genesee Advances to Regional Final Four

Genesee Advances to Regional Final Four

The GCC women's basketball team will play in this weekend's Region III Final Four after dropping Jamestown CC in the sub-regionals on Wednesday night 65-47. It is the first time since the 2010-11 season that Genesee will make an appearance in the final four.

The fourth-seeded Cougars got off to a slow start and went more than three and a half minutes without a basket. JCC, the fifth seed, began the game on a 7-0 run, but GCC closed the gap and trailed just 11-9 after the first quarter.

Lauren Watson wasted little time in the second quarter and gave Genesee a 12-11 lead with her only three-point basket of the game, and the Cougars outscored the Jayhawks 22-10 in the second frame to take the lead for good. Rosalyn Sealey scored eight of her game high 21 points in the second and helped GCC to a 31-21 halftime advantage.

JCC hung around in the second half and got to within six midway through the third quarter, but Genesee ended the period on a 10-3 run and outscored Jamestown 17-12 in the final frame to defeat the Jayhawks for the third time this season.

Norvonee Hall put together her 23rd double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. She also dished out a game high six assists. Lauren Watson and Brionna Blocker each scored 13 points and collected seven boards, and Blocker turned away six shots. Tabria Howell added nine rebounds and two points.

Genesee held Jamestown to 27-percent shooting on the night and forced the Jayhawks into 18 turnovers.

GCC improves its overall record to 15-16 and the Cougars will travel to Monroe CC, which will host the regional final four on Saturday and Sunday. Genesee will square off with MCC, the tournament's overall number one seed, on Saturday at 1 p.m. The winner will advance to Sunday's regional championship at 1 p.m. and play the winner of (2) Niagara County CC and (3) Erie CC.