ROCHESTER, Minnesota – The Owens Express finished where they were ranked in the national polls most of the season. At the top.
The No. 1-ranked Express rallied in the fourth quarter to win the 2022 NJCAA Division III women's basketball championship, defeating Hostos (N.Y.), 65-56 at the Rochester Regional Sports Center. The game was a rematch of the 2019 national title game won by Hostos.
Owens (27-4 overall) trailed 45-42 entering the final quarter, but outscored the Caimans 23-9 to fulfill its goal of winning the championship.
"We were locked in. Back in November, we got ranked No. 1 in the polls. That was great, but then we talked about how we wanted to be No. 1 in March and we did it," said Express head coach Stephen Perry, named Coach of the Tournament. "We stayed focused. Each game in the tournament presented a different challenge for us. We played really well. We're a team of destiny."
Cierra Harris was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 12 points and 10 rebounds, including 17 boards in the 61-46 quarterfinal win over Prince George's (Maryland). Alicia Jones led the way with 19 points.
In the semifinal, the Express were tested by the host college, Rochester Community College, but won in thrilling fashion, 66-63 on Taylor Starks' 3-pointer with 1 second remaining. Harris scored a team-high 17 points and Starks added 15.
"After Taylor hit that shot, we definitely celebrated in the locker room and went crazy," Perry said. "Then we were calm and focused, saying to a player that we had one more game to play. As exciting as the game-winner was, seeing the team regroup, I knew we'd be ready to go in the final."
Dasia Hardison scored a team-high 21 points in the championship game, with Hayley St. John adding 12 points and Harris 10.
Starks and Hardison joined Harris on the all-tournament team.
The championship marked the sixth overall in Owens history and second in 2021-22, following women's volleyball winning its third straight title in November. It's the first time since 2003 that the same school has won the NJCAA Division III women's basketball and women's volleyball titles in the same school year.
With Harris the only sophomore on the roster, Perry has already embraced the anticipated pressure the program could face in 2022-23.
"For next year, we have a new slogan – let's run it back! We're going to try to go back-to-back," he said.