T-Bird (WBB) Prepares for 2nd Round Matchup at NJCAA Nationals

The NMJC women's basketball team qualified for the 2024 NJCAA Women's Basketball Championship in Casper, Wyoming as an at-large bid on Sunday March, 17. The Thunderbirds earned the No. 8 seed and a first round bye as the third and final member of Region V to make the national tournament.

No. 4 Collin College received the automatic bid after winning the Region V title. Odessa College was the first at-large team from Region V coming in at the No. 7 seed.

The final postseason spot went to the T-Birds over McLennan College due to the T-Birds advancement in the region tournament and McLennan's early first round exit.   

The Thunderbirds had a nine day long wait for who their opponent would be in the second round of the NJCAA Women's Basketball Championship. They know their answer now.

Trinity Valley defeated Monroe College 69-65 on Tuesday, March 26 to advance to the second round of the tournament and will play the T-Birds Wednesday, March 27 at 4:45 p.m. MDT on ESPN+.

The Thunderbirds had a fantastic season in Year 4 under 2-time (2022,2024) WJCAC Coach of the Year Austin Mefford. NMJC won their ninth WJCAC title and second WJCAC championship with Coach Mefford. The T-Birds finished with a 26-6 (13-1) record following their 78-69 Region V semifinal loss to Collin College Friday, March 15.

The front court of the Thunderbirds is led by 6-6 forward Pania Davis.

Davis averages 13.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 3 BPG, and has recorded 14 double-doubles on the season. The Aussie stuffed the trophy case with end of season awards. The freshman forward was named Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-American, WJCAC Freshman of the Year, WJCAC All-Conference, and All-Region V, and Region V All-Tournament Team honors.

The back court's leader is guard Cacia Antonio.

Antonio, a 5-10 freshman, averages 15 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 4.4 APG, 2.9 SPG, and has registered seven double-doubles on the year. The Luanda, Angola native took home WBCA Honorable Mention All-American honors, WJCAC Newcomer of the Year, WJCAC All–Conference, and All-Region V honors.

The Thunderbirds will make their third appearance in a row at the national tournament and 10th overall. Coach Mefford has made it to the NJCAA's final stage in every season as a head coach or assistant.

This year's national championship in Casper, Wyoming will be far different than what Mefford or any of the student-athletes are used to compared to when the event was held in Lubbock, Texas.

"It's unique," Mefford said. "How many places can you have the national tournament where you can look out the window and see snow covered mountains?"

The idyllic views come with some caveats, namely longer travel times for teams around the country. The T-Birds are accustomed to the 1:45 ride to Lubbock for the national tournament.

"We try to keep the same routine and make it as normal as possible," Mefford said. "We are in a hotel longer this year. We've never got on a plane and went to the national tournament before. We normally take the bus down the road to Lubbock, so it's different this year."

The Thunderbirds hometown Hobbs, NM has a significant amount of elevation (3,642ft) compared to their opponent Trinity Valley (489 ft). Casper, Wyoming the site if the national tournament sits at 5,118 ft.

"It's a different environment. The one thing you've noticed as you started watching games or you started practicing is the elevation does play an effect on the players," Mefford said. "We've never had to fight the elevation change and thankfully we're not fighting it like other teams are, but it still is noticeable as we're practicing. We just have to be ready to go and then hopefully some of our key pieces can step up and some other people can fill in roles that are needed."

The T-Birds face a Trinity Valley team that has won eight national titles and was most recently the 2023 NJCAA National Runner-up losing to Northwest Florida 66-63 in 2023. The Cardinals finished the season with 26-6 (13-3) record. Trinity was an at-large bid following their 84-70 Region XIV loss to Blinn on March 16.

"Trinity Valley has got the history of being Trinity Valley," Mefford said. "They were playing in the national championship game last year, although obviously some of those players are gone, and they've got new players, but they're athletic. They have several people that can score and do different things. Yes, they struggled in Round 1 against Monroe, but it was first game of the tournament for them. They didn't play to the best of their ability, but they'll be excited and ready to go against us for sure."

The Thunderbirds will try their best to exploit a smaller team in Trinity Valley. The Cardinals have zero players on their roster above 6 feet playing more than two minutes a game.

"Well, I think once again, we've got to be able to get the ball inside and get to the basket," Mefford said. "We're bigger across the board for the most part. We need to get post touches with P (Pania Davis), whether it's with her scoring or her kicking it out."

The Thunderbirds have battled through injuries all year. Center Emma Najjuma went down with a torn ACL right before the start of the season. Guard Wisdom Anthony succumbed to a meniscus injury in the final month of the season and was ruled out for the remainder of the year.

Guards Aaliyah Holmes and Nuria Estrade both were unable to finish the Region V semifinals due to lower leg aggravations. The hope is with the help of NMJC athletic trainer Nadia Cole the duo will be ahead of schedule and ready to go in the second round on Wednesday.

"The Region V semifinal game took a toll on us, and they've done their part doing treatment," Mefford said. "Nadia (Cole) has done an incredible job this week trying to get them ready. They're going to give it a go and do the best they can. Yes, we're a little sore and bumped and bruised, but it's tournament time and it's the last chance you got to go in and give it your all. Those kids are toughing it out."

There are a few keys Coach Mefford mentioned that were vital to a deep postseason run at the tournament.

"If we'll settle in and play defense, we've got size, we've got quickness, we've got length, then we can do a lot of things," Mefford said. "We have to guard this week and guard well. We need to be able to change the tempo and be able to press and get the game going up and down when we need it to be and make it our game. If we can make it up and down and make them uncomfortable then that probably gives us the best chance to win."

The No. 8 Thunderbirds face No. 9 Trinity Valley in Round 2 of the NJCAA Women's Basketball Championship Wednesday, March 27 at 4:45 p.m. MDT in Casper, Wyoming. The game will be televised on ESPN+ and a $10 subscription will be required to catch the games live.  

To keep up to date with tournament scores and action visit Tournament Central.