Heckman, Capital University women's basketball headed to NCAA tournament

PITSBURG - Monica Heckman, a Franklin Monroe High School graduate and member of the Capital University women's basketball team, is a part of the Crusaders' run to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which began March 14 against Ferrum College at Ferrum.

Capital (19-8 overall) earned an automatic bid and the program's 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament following a statement 67-50 win over Ohio Northern in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship game March 8.

Seeded fourth in the OAC Tournament, the Crusaders managed to win two consecutive road games en route to the conference championship, including an 83-77 overtime victory over No. 1 seeded Baldwin Wallace in Berea, Ohio.

The Crusaders finished fourth in the OAC during the 2013-2014 regular season, as they posted a 13-5 record in conference, finishing the regular season winning eight of their last 10 games heading into tournament play.

Head coach Dixie Jeffers, who is in her 28th season at the helm of the program, will make her 13th NCAA appearance. Jeffers, the OAC's all-time leader in wins, guided Capital to four straight NCAA Tournament semifinals, including a pair of national titles, in the 1990s.

Ferrum (26-2 overall) advanced to its third straight NCAA Tournament following a 64-50 win over Maryville, Tenn., in the USA South Athletic Conference. The Panthers are currently ranked No. 16 in both the D3hoops.com Top 25 and USA Today Sports Division III Top 25 Coaches' polls, having won 13 of their last 14 games to end the regular season.

Capital is led this season by senior forward Jamie Caton, who has been an integral part to the Crusaders in earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Cookie Geroski, Fostoria, also has been a staple of the Crusaders offense this season, ranking in the top 15 in the OAC in scoring (11.9) and rebounding (5.5), while also placing eighth in assists (2.96).

Sophomore guard Simonne Gage, Dayton, has orchestrated the Crusaders' offense at a high level all season, tying for first in the OAC in assist/turnover ratio (2.55) and placing second in assists (4.86), all while averaging 8.6 points per game on the season. Sophomore forward Kristen Thompson, Cincinnati, has also been a major part of the Crusaders' impressive second half of the season. She has cemented herself as one of the league's top rebounders, currently placing 10th in the conference in rebounding (6.2), while also increasing her points average to 9.1 per game.

The Crusaders also add other proven contributors to the mix of defending and scoring as well, as junior center Monica Heckman, Pitsburg, junior guard Shelby Sheets, Fayetteville, sophomore guard Jenna Erwin, Springfield, and freshman guard Lauren Stefancin, Mentor, have all played key roles in helping lead Capital to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.

As a team, the Crusaders rank fifth in the OAC in scoring offense (70.2), third in scoring defense (66.2), and second in turnover margin (+3.26). Capital is 8-4 in home games, 10-4 in road games, and 1-0 in games at neutral sites so far this season.