BCC women move into national Top 10

Coaches Joanne Cobb and Marianne Campacci have spoken all season about having a special group of players at Brookdale Community College (BCC).

Now, it seems, the nation has caught on to the Jersey Blues women's basketball team. The once-beaten BCC women cracked the National Junior College Athletic Association's Top 10 lastweek, coming in atNo. 10.

The Blues have remained perfect in Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) play (12-0) and are 18-1 overall.

The Blues enjoyed a statement win Thursday, beating No. 7 Camden decisively, 86-67, in Lincroft. Camden 14-2) was undefeated in GSAC play heading into the showdown at BCC.

Campacci said theBrookdale'smajor concern against Camden was its pressure defense. The Blues handled it easy, but not by putting the hands into their guards and beating the pressure by dribbling through it.

"Everyone had to be involved," saidCampacci. "We couldn't beat the pressure by putting the ball on the floor.We had to pass it."

Having solved the riddle to Camden's defense, the Blues rolled to another one-side victory. The Blues have been doing that to teams all year. They've been outscoring their opponents by 15 points (70-55).

The offense has been versatile all season with somany of its forwards able to playwith their backs to the basket in the paint and just as easily step outside and drain the jumper. Some have three-point range.

Kitora Jones is averaging a team-high 17 points a game with Fabrizio (11.18), and Olivia Triano (11.12) also in double figures.

Jones (Perth Amboy) tops the team in three-point goals (28), while Keshia Taylor (Lake Como) has 19 and averaging 8.8 rebounds a game.

The three has been a big part of the offense with 97 on the season. The Blues have six women who have five players with more than 10. Lisa Jamesa has 19 with Hoffman and Triano having 10 each.

Fabrizio (Brick Township) has been a double-double machine. The sophomore is one of the leading rebounders in the country, pulling down 13.65 rebounds a game to go along with her 11.18 points per game.

EricaHoffman (Middletown South) is averaging 8.1 points per game (ppg) and leads the teamin assists average (3.13).

The return of Jamie Biddle (Howell), last year's Region XIXMVP, adds another inside weapon to the team. She's averaging 7.85 points a game while getting back into game condition.

The Blues' team play is reflected by having three playerswith 50 assists- Hoffman, Taylor and Triano- while Jones has 43. It's save to say that the Blues get everyone involved in the offense.

Defensively, the teamhas 220 steals.

BCC's women close a four-game home stand on Saturday against Passaic (1 p.m.). Their final home game is Feb. 16 when Sussexmakes a call (noon).

Before that final, theBlueswill have a rematch at Camden on Tuesday. The top seed for the Region XIX tournament could be on the line.

The Region XIX tournament begins on Feb. 26 at the home of the higher seed. The semifinals and final are Feb. 28 andMarch 1 at Morris Community College. The winner advances to the NJCAA Championships March 13-15 atMohawk Valley, N.Y.