Lady Wolverines to Host Region 19 Semi-Final Tilt on February 24

Led by the nation’s leading scorer, the Essex County College (ECC) Women’s Basketball team enters the 2022 Region 19 tournament as the second seed and will host a semi-final game at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 24, in the College Gym. The regional tournament is the first stage of the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) Division II basketball championships.

The Lady Wolverines are 14-7 and paced by freshman standout Jakira Coar. Jakira is the top scorer in Division II, averaging just over 24 points a game. Fellow freshman Salma Abouelkheir enters the tournament as the team’s leading rebounder, with 8.6 boards a game.

ECC will take on Harcum College in the regional semi-final game.   

ECC did not field a team the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s squad is composed entirely of freshmen and a first-year coach in Anthony Green. “What the team has been able to accomplish is remarkable. Everything in the past two years has been unique, which makes this season even more impressive,” said ECC Athletic Director Michael Doughtie.  

“The entire College applauds the success of our Women’s Basketball team. Congratulations to our student-athletes, coaches and Athletic Department. They have and will continue to make us proud,” said ECC’s President, Dr. Augustine A. Boakye.