Rochester, MN - The #1 ranked RCTC Yellowjackets are your 2024-25 Women's Basketball National Champions. The Jackets rolled to the title with a 73-37 win in the Championship game. RCTC won their three games by an average of 24 points enroute to the Championship. RCTC finishes the season with an overall record of 24-4. The win marks th fourth straight top three finish for the Jackets in the National Tournament. RCTC finished third in 21-22, before winning the title in 22-23 andfinishing runner-up in 23-24.
In their opener, the Jackets got off to a quick start against Joliet Community College taking a 17-9 lead into the first period break. RCTC lead 27-23 at the half before pulling away in the second half to win 64-51. RCTC got 19 points from Kara Goetzinger on 7-15 shooting, while Nyomi Crushshon had 18 points on 6-8 shooting. Allana Bates, Macaya Copeland, and Jaid Pressley each had 7 points for the Jackets. RCTC force 30 Joliet turnovers and had 15 steals. Copeland and Bates had 4 each.
Game two saw the Jackets square off against familiar MCAC Southern Division foe Anoka-Ramsey. The two teams had already met twice with the Jackets winningtwo tightly contested defensive ball games. RCTC left no doubt in the early stages of this one as they held the Golden Rams to only 8 points in the first quarter and 6 in the second taking a 33-14 lead into the half. The Jackets scored 38 points in the second to cruise to a 71-48 win. RCTC found their shooting touch as they hit on 49% of their shots, including 33% (7-21) from beyond the arc. The Jackets had incredibly balanced scoring as 5 players scored in double-figures with no single pl;ayer scoring more than 11. Aniyah Reuben and Nyomi Crushshon each had 11 while Macaya Copeland, Kara Goetzinger, and Jaide Pressley each had 10. Copeland lead all players with 6 assists, while Crushshon and Cassidy Shute each had 3 steals. The Jackets defensive once again dominated as they forced 25 turnovers and held Anoka to only 34% shooting from the floor.
The title game against the Cannoneers of Jefferson proved to be the Jackets best of the tournament as the defense once again controlled the game. RCTC forced 26 Jefferson turnovers and had 15 steals. RCTC on the other hand turned the ball over only 7 times. RCTC outrebounded Jefferson 44 35 as well. RCTC got 17 points from Macaya Copeland and 16 from Kara Goetzinger in the win. Allana Bates had 12 points off the bench, while Aniyah Reuben added 8. RCTC lead 27-11 aftger the first period and never looked back. After leading 37-22 at the half the Jackets allowed only 15 total second half points in the dominating win.
RCTC's Kara Goetzinger was named the Tournament MVP, while Macaya Copeland and Nyomi Crushshon were named to the All-Tournament team.
Coach Jason Bonde earned the NJCAA National Coach of the Year.
