Express men finish 4th, women 7th in respective NJCAA tourneys

Owen's Uniqua Mitchell drives past a Lake Michigan defender in Saturday's 7th place game of the NJCAA D-II national tournament. Mitchell had a team-high 17 points in the loss.

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Uniqua Mitchell had 17 points and Mackenzie Heacock added 14 to lead the Owens Community College women’s basketball team to a 60-43 win over Lake Michigan College in the NJCAA Division II national tournament seventh-place game.

Lake Michigan was the national runner-up last season.

The win marks the best finish by the Express in the current 16-team format.

Mitchell also had eight rebounds, two blocks, and one assist, while Heacock six rebounds, and two assists.

Meshia Smith totaled 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks for the No. 9-ranked Owens (28-8).

Karahn Scott pulled down 15 rebounds (nine offensive), while adding five points.

Brenea Rivoli-Johnson led Lake Michigan (27-8) with 17 points.

Men

Brown Mackie 80, Owens 66

DANVILLE, Ill. — Playing shorthanded, the Express (26-10) finished fourth in the country with the loss.

Andy Bachman did not play after injuring himself in Friday night's game, while starting point guard Joe Retic II played, but was limited due to an injury as well.

Tony Boykins was the best player on the floor for the Express today as the freshman totaled a game-high 18 points, while adding four assists, one rebound and one block.

James Kelly nearly had a double-double in 26 minutes. He had 13 points, nine rebounds, one assist and one steal. Travon Mitchell led Brown Mackie with 15 points.

As a team, the Express finished 25-for-65 (38.5 percent) overall from the field.