Lady Pioneers Win Region Title, One Game Away from Nationals

DENMARK, SC -- The SMC Lady Pioneers on Saturday won the Region X title for only the second time in team history and will battle next week for their first appearance in the NJCAA Division I national tournament.

The Lady Pioneers (21-10) won 70-56 over Clinton Junior College (13-19).

SMC will play against Region 17 champion Georgia Perimeter College on Saturday, March 5, for the District J championship. The District J champion will advance to the NJCAA Divsion I national playoffs.

Georgia Perimeter College (27-5) defeated South Georgia Tech on Saturday, 78-70.

Friday recap: SMC v. Denmark Technical College

The Lady Pioneers, 9-0 in region play, commanded an early lead Friday against Denmark Technical College and went up 11-2 five minutes into the game. SMC held on to win 94-52 in their fourth battle with Denmark this season.

The Lady Pioneers led 48-30 at the half.

Freshman guard Kimberly Henderson (Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS) led the Lady Pioneers in scoring, with 15. Sophomore point guard Whitley Smith (Lee Central HS) and freshman guard Ashia Mitchell (Gaffney HS) each chipped in 13 points.

SMC and Denmark have played three times this season with the Lady Pioneers winning each contest by at least 35 points.

Prior to Friday's games, Region X honors were announced with SMC head coach Melissa Baker being named Region X Coach of the Year. Lady Pioneers Tequila McNeal and Whitley Smith were named All Region X players.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The College is in its 100th academic year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.
 
For more information please contact athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.