Rollins, Knights headed to NJCAA tourney

The Community College of Rhode Island women’s basketball team is returning to the NJCAA National Tournament after winning its fourth consecutive Region XXI title.

The Knights entered the region playoffs as the top seed with a 13-0 league record. Their dominant play propelled them to a 94-52 win over Northern Essex in the final, which earned them the seventh seed in this week’s NJCAA tournament. CCRI boasts a 23-5 overall record this season.

“They’re excited and they’re confident that they can come up here and do some damage,” said CCRI coach Doug Haynes. “They’re motivated to get to the Final Four, after the Final Four anything can happen.”

Six players return from last year’s group, which went 1-1 at nationals. Haynes hopes the experience at nationals – as well as with each other on the floor – will pay dividends this time around.

“I think playing together the last two years is going to help us. We know what the tournament is like, we know what to expect from the tournament and the other teams. They’ll know the layout,” said Haynes.

The team’s top newcomer is Johnston resident Jayanah Rollins, who has averaged more than 10 points per game for the Knights after a decorated high school career with the Panthers.

“Jay’s been a blessing for our program. She brings a lot of energy and I feel that she’s our best defender, we put her on the best scorers in the region and does a great job. She’s got a motor which helps the older kids get better,” said Haynes.

Haynes is looking for the Knights to simply stick to the gameplan and play clean basketball in order to make a splash in the tournament. 

“We’ve got to limit our turnovers, stay smart, stay focused and play as a team. We need to continue to do what we’ve done all year long and not crumble once the pressure is on us,” said Haynes. “I’ve had some good teams, but I feel that this team is more talented and more driven. They feel like they have a lot to prove which is a good thing, you want to play with a chip on your shoulder.”

Haynes is also proud to represent the CCRI community as the Knights have established themselves as one of the premier NJCAA teams in the country in the past half decade.

“Being an alum at CCRI, that has always driven me. (Our success) makes a name for the school and the kids. We’re doing it with Rhode Island kids and that’s been our number one goal,” said Haynes.