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The favorite
Shaw: Last year’s Division II national champion is deep and loaded to make another run at the title.
Team to watch
Elizabeth City State: Vikings went unbeaten in the North Division at 10-0 and have a 13-game winning streak.
Dark horse
Fayetteville State: The Broncos won the South Division for the first time in coach Eva Patterson-Heath’s four seasons. Fayetteville State has been in the Division II Top 20 as well.
Five players to watch
Ronika Ransford, Shaw, G, Sr.: Averages 15.5 points and hits 44.2 percent of field goal attempts.
Stephanie Harper, Elizabeth City State, F, 5-11, Sr.: Broke the 1,000-point barrier in the season finale.
Kristen Hanzer, Fayetteville State, G, 5-10 Sr.: Leading scorer at 19.1 points per game and hits 47.4 percent of her shots.
Shaunda Ashford, Fayetteville State, C, 6-1, Sr.: Averages 15.2 points and shoots league-best 55.9 percent.
Brittany Dorsett, Johnson C. Smith, G, 5-8, Sr.: Second in the league in 3-point field goals made with 50.
Did you know?
• Shaw has won six of the past eight tournament titles. The Bears have four region titles and the 2012 national championship.
• Rookie of the Year Regime McCombs is one of four St. Aug’s Falcons on the all-rookie squad.
• Shaw assistant coach Carl Hatchell is the husband of North Carolina women’s coach Sylvia Hatchell, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee////inductee or nominee?///
Herb White
