The Cougars Begin National Tournament Play Thursday at 6 p.m.(Central Standard Time)

The Cougars (22-3) Begin National Tournament Play Thursday at 6 p.m.(Central Standard Time)vs. Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ) (25-0).

Cougars will Represent New England in NJCAA Division III National Tournament

MANCHESTER, CT – Governor Jody Rell posed for pictures and congratulated the 2009-10 Manchester Community College Women’s basketball team at a rally held for the team in the Lowe lobby Monday at noon.

She urged them to bring home some hardware from the National Championship Tournament at the informal gathering of approximately 100 well wishers that lasted about 20 minutes.

MCC will participate in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Championship Tournament at the University Center in Rochester, MN March 11-13.

Dean of Student Affairs Duncan Harris opened the informal gathering attended by an estimated 100 well wishers by reflecting upon a trip he took with the team earlier this season to the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

MCC Director of Athletics Cynthia Washburne, coaches Robert Turner Jr. and Peter Harris thanked everyone involved in their season and sophomore Amanda Colon spoke on behalf of the team.

MCC is the #7 seed and will play #2 Brookdale CC (25-0) Thursday at 6 p.m. (Central Standard Time) in the first round of eight-team, double elimination tournament. Brookdale CC is located in Lincroft, NJ.

The Cougars are 22-3 overall and were 19-2 in NJCAA Region 21 play this season under Head Coach Turner, who is 74-34 in five seasons. MCC won Region 21 Tournament Feb 28th with a 79-61 victory over Roxbury CC after beating host Massasoit CC 82-71 in the semifinal game the previous day and take a five game winning streak into the tournament.

Follow the tournament at: http://www.rochsports.org/2010njcaawbb.php

Follow tournament blog by Paul Ofria (SID) on Facebook. Search Manchester Community College Athletics.