Never underestimate a group of young women who believe in themselves and their abilities. After winning the CUNY Community College Basketball Championship, Hostos Community College women’s basketball defeated Monroe University-Bronx 64–60 last Saturday in the NJCAA Region XV Tournament. That win sends the 26-1 Caimans to the NJCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship that takes place in Rochester, Minnesota next week.
Hostos won the national title in 2018 and 2019 and this team is hungry to match that success. “Monroe played a well structured game and they came at us hard in the beginning,” said shooting guard Shelby McGill. “The whole game was a tough battle because we knew what we were up against and they knew what they were up against, but we had a bigger heart. We were under a lot of pressure, but we knew that we were going to pull through in the end.”
McGill said their heart comes from believing in and trusting each other. “We don’t fold under pressure,” she said. “We stay composed and that’s what helped us pull through.”
Small forward Daja White led the offense in the win over Monroe with 20 points, six rebounds and six steals. “This win means a lot; it meant more because before the game Coach [Dwight] Shaw expressed to us that he never won the regionals, so I wanted us to be the first to get him there. It was a lot of emotion throughout the game but I’m really happy to pull it off,” said White.
All the players are competitive and also appreciate the camaraderie of the team. That team aspect carries into power forward Jozai Vazquez’s career plans and her hopes to join the FDNY. Vazquez’s path to this moment has had its challenges. The pandemic derailed her first attempt at college basketball. Now 24, being with Hostos on a winning team gives her immense pride.
“We work together; we communicate with each other and grow a bond,” said Vazquez, who played her high school basketball at Murry Bergtraum. “Basketball is only going to make fire fighting easier for me. I’m coachable, teachable, I listen and I’m most definitely up for new things. I’m going to finish school first and then hopefully get the call.”
When they get to Minnesota the goal is clear. “We’re looking to take it all,” said McGill.