Roller coaster women's basketball season topped with honors and trip to nationals

Before the Moraine Valley Community College women's basketball team played their first game in October, talk circulated about how good this team would be. They proved they had the talent and the perseverance to go far.

Within the first month, the Cyclones were winning games by 15, 20 and even 70 points. Between the returning posts—Michelle Borgen (Andrew) and Erin Drynan (Mother McAuley)—and a quick freshman point guard—Diamond Dortch (Romeoville)—plus the countless other strong team members, this team had the talent to win it all.

Mid-season, a couple of miscalculations deeming two players ineligible negated 15 wins from the Cyclones’ nearly unblemished record. Although they finished with a 12-0 record in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference, they were relegated to 3-8. Their overall 32-4 record became 17-19. At one time the team also was ranked No. 13 among NJCAA Division II teams.

Despite this setback, the team persevered, determined to win the NJCAA Region IV District L championship and head to nationals. On March 11, the Cyclones took a decisive 92-72 win over Illinois Valley Community College to get their first trip to nationals since 1989.

By the end of the regular season, the Cyclones were outscoring opponents by an average of 26 points. Borgen, Drynan and Dortch had each broken several school records—points, rebounds/blocks and assists, respectively. They were ready for the “big dance.”

While at the national tournament in Harrison, Arkansas, the battered and bruised Cyclones went 1-2, finishing 12th in the country.

“I thought we fought hard. Only one team out of all the regions and districts can win, and everybody has love for their season as we do,” said head Coach Delwyn Jones.

Borgen, at forward, led the Cyclone offense the past two years. Her 904 points and 219-324 free-throw average this season topped the NJCAA Division II ranks. She was ranked No. 3 nationally in points per game (25.8 ave.). In February, she reached 1,000 points scored as a Cyclone. She was named 2017 Region Player of the Year and Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Player of the Year.

Drynan, at center, has been a fighting force with Borgen these last two years, breaking records at Moraine Valley and also topping NJCAA Division II in blocks (169) and ranking second in both total rebounds (496) and rebounds per game (15.5). She broke her own Cyclone record for most rebounds in one game two times this season, including the most recent region final game (27).

Dortch was pivotal in moving the ball quickly and working fast breaks for the Cyclones. She finished at No. 6 in the country for assists (167). She was named an All-Conference first team player with Borgen and Drynan. The trio also earned All-Region Tournament team honors.

“As a team we did well. It was nice to get a feel at nationals and make it a goal to come back next season,” Dortch said.

Sophomore Ashley Carroll (Beecher) and freshman Taylor McGiles (Sandburg), both forwards, were integral to the team’s success, relentless at both ends of the court, and were each named to the All-Conference second team.

Jones also earned Region IV as well as Skyway Coach of the Year. Even though the season didn’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped, he was excited to work with this group and finally compete at nationals, which has eluded him during his successful tenure at Moraine Valley.

“It was a tremendous season, and we were region champs. Plus we were one of the top 12 teams in the nation. This is a great group,” Jones said. “If you fight, give it your best and can look in the mirror and say you did everything you could this season, I’m okay with that. This team was good. We grew and got even better this season.