HICKORY, N.C. – The No. 4 seed Johnson County women's basketball team (23-1) will play for the 2021 NJCAA D-II National Championship after defeating No. 8 seed Illinois Central 69-56 in the semifinals Friday night. This is JCCCs fourth championship game appearance, and third under head coach Ben Conrad. JCCC will face No. 2 seed Lake Land (24-2) in the championship game Saturday night at Catawba Valley's Tarlton Complex. 

The Lady Cavaliers used a 13-point run over a five minute period in the first quarter to take a lead it never relinquished. 

Sophomore guard Presley Barton found her range, nailing five 3-point baskets to lead JCCC with 16 points. Her five treys tie the fourth-best game by a JCCC player in national tournament play. 

Sophomore guard Jaylen Townsend followed with 11 points and eight rebounds, and sophomore LaJahda Boyland added nine points and six boards. 

Sophomore guard Gabby Fuller was the team's top rebounds with 10, and freshmen guards Kierra Prim and Lisa Thomas provided head coach Ben Conrad solid minutes off the bench. Prim finished with eight points and three rebounds. Thomas chipped in seven points along with three boards and three assists. 

Kayla Gordon had 14 points, five rebounds and four assists to lead Illinois Central. 

Johnson County won the rebound battle, 41-31, including 18 on the offensive end. 

Johnson County won national championships in 2000 and 2015, and were runner-up in 2017.  Conrad coached the 2015 and 2017 teams.