NMJC women stun No. 1 Butler Community College to reach NJCAA Elite Eight

The New Mexico Junior College women’s basketball team knocked off top-ranked Butler Community College 82-79 in overtime on Thursday to advance to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship.

The 16th-seeded Thunderbirds (25-6) will play the winner of No. 8 Walters State Community College and No. 9 State Fair Community College on Saturday in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The game tips off at 10 a.m. MDT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

NMJC stormed back from 16 points down with eight minutes to go, executing clutch plays at the end of regulation and overtime, to beat Butler (32-2).

Butler led 70-67 when Luisa Amaral stole the ball and took it down court for a layup with 11 seconds to go to close the gap for the Thunderbirds. After an NMJC foul, the Grizzlies hit one of two free throws. Thunderbirds star Jada Graves drove for a layup to tie the game with 8 seconds remaining.

In overtime, Butler rallied late to tie it at 79-79 with 22 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, Graves drove to the basket and passed out of the double-team to Amaral, who nailed the go-ahead three-pointer with 5 seconds to go.

Graves scored 33 points and dished out 10 assists to pace the Thunderbirds. She leads the NJCAA in points per game (19.3) and is second in assists (7.0).

Amaral came off the bench to score 21 points.

Mya Mayberry scored 19 points, going 6-of-12 from the three-point line, to lead the Grizzlies.