Highland overcomes Triton to defend Region 4 crown

FREEPORT, ILL. - Despite two prior lopsided losses against Triton College, the Highland Community College women's basketball team did not back down Monday, March 6, and overcame the top-seeded Trojans 89-86 to claim the 2023 NJCAA Region 4 Division I Championship. The second-seeded Cougars succesfully defended their crown from 2022, and were led by Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player Maddie Hildebrand and Region 4 Coach of the Year Blake Becke. (Highland Recap)

The tightly contested matchup saw the host Cougars lead 29-23 after the first quarter, and then by a 48-41 differential at the break. The Trojans battled back in the third quarter to trail by one entering the fourth quarter, where they finally got over the hump to take an 81-75 lead. From that point it, Highland outscored Triton 14-5, and sealed the victory with a blocked shot on a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. 

Hildebrand finished with 14 points and 19 rebounds, and was joined on the Region All-Tournament Team by teammate Laura Mora, who tallied 16 points off the bench. Corrina Noble and Marija Markovic registered 23 and 21 points, respectively.

Highland Community College advanced to the NJCAA North Central District Championship, where they lost 113-53 at North Dakota State College of Science on March 11. The Cougars' season ends with a 14-16 record, while NDSCS advanced to the 2023 NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in Lubbock, Texas, from March 22-27.

2023 Region 4 All-Tournament Team
Maddie Hildebrand - Highland Community College
Destine Lovett - Triton College
Monraia Wilson - Triton College
Laura Mora - Highland Community College
Hailey Waters - Sauk Valley Community College
Dejae Parks - Malcolm X College

2023 Region 4 Tournament MVP
Maddie Hildebrand - Highland Community College

2023 Region 4 Coach of the Year
Blake Becke - Highland Community College