Pointers finish third in NJCAA tournament

Tatyana LaFrance Boyce finished her UConn Avery Point career in style, scoring 26 points while adding 10 rebounds and eight steals as the Pointers rallied to beat Northland (Wis.) 90-84 in the third-place consolation game at the NJCAA Division III women's basketball tournament on Saturday night.

The Pointers, who lost an 83-79 heartbreaker to Hostos Community College (N.Y.) less than 24 hours earlier in the national semifinals, finish their season 25-7, the best record in program history. They trailed 72-64 after three quarters before outscoring Northland 26-12 in the fourth.

In addition to LaFrance Boyce, the former Stonington star, Meagan Bianchi added 17 points and seven assists, Waterford's Mia Brennan had 13 points and four steals, and Edona Thaqi came off the bench to add nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

Avery Point, under head coach George Hardison, qualified for the national tournament by winning the Region 21 (New England) title.

LaFrance Boyce finishes her career as the Pointers' career scoring leader with 1,292 points while Bianchi will leave as the all-time assists leader with 406.

The third-seeded Pointers defeated No. 6 Rochester (Minn.) 98-93 in the opening round and averaged 89 points per-game in tournament.

No. 2 Hostos went on to defeat No. 1 Rock Valley College (Ill.), the host school, 58-52 in the title game.