Green tabbed as NJCAA Player of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS - After a record-setting sophomore season that included scoring milestones, a Region III championship, and the NJCAA Division II national title, Sierra Green has earned one more honor to put an exclamation point on an outstanding MCC career.

The shooting guard was announced as the 2018 NJCAA Spalding DII Player of the Year on Thursday, becoming the second Tribune in the last three years to earn that accolade. Shanice Johnson achieved the feat in 2016.

A native of Flushing, NY and a graduate of Francis Lewis High School, Green averaged 19.0 points per game as Monroe went 33-2 and won the 2018 NJCAA national championship with a 62-58 win over Kirkwood Community College on March 24.  She was announced as an NJCAA first team All-American on Wednesday.

Green made her mark from beyond the arc. She rewrote the MCC record books from 3-point territory this season, setting new standards for 3-pointers in a game (12 vs. Jamestown on Dec. 13), season (158), and career (246). The 158 3's were the most this season in any NJCAA division, men or women.

Green only started eight out of Monroe's 35 contest, but relished her role as a high-volume scorer coming off the bench. She tallied over 20 points on 16 different occasions during the year, including a career-high 41 in the aforementioned Jamestown game.

She was strong from the start of the year. Green hit five 3's and scored 21 in a season-opening win over Finger Lakes on Nov. 1.  She then went off for 36 points (12-for-18 from the floor, 10-for-16 from 3) in the team's fourth game, a win over Baltimore City.

The Dec. 13 contest against regional foe Jamestown was one for the ages. Green and Jayhawk forward Alexis Rodenbaugh battled back and forth, with each player finishing with 41 on the night. Green came through late, with four 3's and 15 points in the fourth to help Monroe pull away.

Green and the Tribunes continued to roll through the regular season, maintaining the No. 1 ranking in NJCAA DII the entire year. She eclispsed the 1,000-point plateau in a win over Jamestown in the regular season finale, ultimately ending with 1,109 in her two seasons.

She then earned MVP honors after hitting seven 3's and scoring 21 as Monroe defeated Niagara County to claim the regional title and clinch a spot in the national tournament. Green was also named Region III Player of the Year, an honor she shared with teammate Lanay Rodney.

Monroe proceeded to sweep through nationals to claim its fifth title. Green knocked down seven 3's and scoring 25 in an 87-71 win over Mesa in the national semifinals. She then added four more from long distance and scored 14 in the title game. Her 20 3-pointers set a new NJCAA DII tournament record.