Haverhill, MA (March 2, 2024) – A career high 37 points from Mirelys Morales (Dracut) including a pair of free throws with 7.7 seconds remaining in the first overtime to force a second and the Northern Essex Community College women's basketball has advanced to the NJCAA Region 21/East District Championship game on Sunday with an 85-77 victory over Massasoit. The Knights will take on Community College of Rhode Island at 1:00pm on Sunday from the Sport and Fitness Center on the Haverhill campus for the right to advance to Rochester, MN and the national tournament.

In a back and forth affair the teams traded leads throughout the game as it was tied at 15 after the first quarter and Massasoit took a one point lead into the locker room at 33-32 and a three point lead after three quarters 51-48.

Morales was joined by a trio of teammates in double figures as Kamryn Pastorello (Billerica) added 13 points, McKayla Dingle (Haverhill) and Mariah LaSalle (Lawrence) added 11 and 10 points respectively.

Janisa Price (Haverhill) added 14 rebounds to help the Knights with the battle on the glass.

CCRI won both regular season contests over NECC on the road in November and at hone in January.