Governor Rell Speaks at Rally for Manchester CC Women’s Basketball Team

MANCHESTER, Conn. (March 9, 2010)… – Governor M. Jodi 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 afternoon. Gov. Rell encouraged the team 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.

Dr. G. Duncan Harris, dean of Student Affairs, opened the informal gathering by reflecting upon a trip he took with the team earlier this season to the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. MCC Director of Student Life, Cynthia Washburne and coaches Robert Turner Jr. and Peter Harris, also thanked everyone involved in their season. 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 the Region 21 Tournament Feb 28 with a 79-61 victory over Roxbury CC after beating host Massasoit CC 82-71 in the semifinal game the previous day. The Cougars take a five-game winning streak into the tournament.