April 26, 2024

Photo courtesy by @RVCathletics.

The Rock Valley College women’s basketball team are National Champions!

In an overtime championship game in Utica, New York, RVC beat the Roxbury Tigers 57-49 to claim the NJCAA Division III Women’s National Championship Title. This is RVC’s fourth National Championship in 6 seasons, and all titles have been won under Coach Misty Opat.

Rock Valley College has been ranked #1 all season and they finished their season 33-2 with a 22-game win streak. The ladies last loss occurred almost 3 months ago on December 19, 2016. The Golden Eagles had quite a journey to reach the Championship game. They received the Region IV crown after beating Milwaukee Area Technical College (68-59) and Joliet Junior College (65-61). RVC arrived in Circleville, Ohio for the District B title game against Columbus State Community College. RVC beat the Cougars 68-58 and won the District B title to enter the National Tournament. There was 11 days in-between games so rest is one thing that RVC doesn’t have to worry about heading into  the tournament.

In the NJCAA DIII National Tournament the #1 Golden Eagles played  #8 Brookdale Community College (NJ) in the quarterfinals and crushed them 74-46. The ladies moved on to play #4 Mohawk Valley Community College (NY) in the semifinals and steamrolled them 68-47. The stage was set #1 RVC versus #3 Roxbury Community College (MA) and the Golden Eagles prevailed  57-49, March 18, 2017. The Golden Eagles are the newly crowned National Champions.

There are a lot of things to be proud of in the Rockford area and this is another gem to shine for all to see. Congratulations RVC!

Photo by @MVCCwbbnats.