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Brookdale Women Soar Into NJCAA Final FourThe Brookdale Community College women’s team will continue on its path to the perfect season as the squad, now 26-0, qualifies for the NJCAA Division III Final Four with an 89-70 win over Manchester Community College. Tia Curtis (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) and Brielle Martinez (Manasquan, NJ/Hamilton West) each scored a team-high 21 points, as the Jersey Blues are now guaranteed for their highest-ever finish in the National tournament. Michelle Blum (Howell, NJ/Howell) added another 18 points, including 12 from long-range, for the Jersey Blues, who now go on to face Madison Area Technical College, a Wisconsin-based squad who entered the tournament at 28-3. Brookdale found itself in an unfamiliar place in the opening minutes against seventh-seeded Manchester – behind. What started out as a six-point deficit, quickly turned into Jersey Blue domination as the second-seeded squad blew open the lead with a 10-0 run. The Jersey Blues shots lights out, with a 50.7 field-goal percentage over the course of the game – and a 72.2% scoring clip over the final stanza – to seal the win. The difference maker over the stretch; however, seemed to be in the form of long-distance balls. The Jersey Blues made good on 10 of 26 trey attempts – all made by Blum (4), Curtis (3) and Vicky DeTata (Brick, NJ/Brick) (3) - while the Cougars settled for only four three-pointers made. The first of two games in the winner’s bracket – Brookdale and Madison Tech are slated to tip-off on Friday, March 12 at 9pm. This will not be the first time the two teams will meet; however. In the 2005-06 NJCAA Tournament opening round, the Jersey Blues came out the victors in a 63-48 contest.
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