Simmons College women's basketball team overcame rocky losing streak to win national title

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It's been a classic Cinderella season for the Simmons College of Kentucky women's basketball team.

After starting the season with two big wins, things went downhill. First-year head coach Earl Ruffin said his team learned a lot from their seven-game losing streak and playing against tough competition.

"For example, we played Georgetown, Kentucky," Ruffin said Monday. "They have four Division I transfers. They are really good. They gave us a good whipping."

Senior point guard Zephaniah Gray said, after some tweaks, the team went on a roll and eventually made it to the NCCAA Division II Women's Basketball Tournament.

"Those experiences with those teams were really beneficial to us, because we were able to see what things we needed to tweak," Gray said. 

And on Saturday, Simmons defeated No. 3 Toccoa Falls College, 79-70, to win the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II national title. It's the first national championship in the school's history. 

"It felt great," Gray said. "I was crying, more the fact that I was leaving my team. Because I love them so much."

Morgan Defoor, a Georgetown native, scored 30 points, making six three-pointers. And Andrea Seay added 16 points for Simmons. Defoor was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. 

After leading by six points at halftime, Simmons extended its lead to double digits late in the third quarter. Simmons protected its lead by shooting 60% from the field in the fourth quarter.

"We went down with a vision and we said we wasn't coming back without a title," Ruffin said.

Simmons first defeated North Central University with a 19-point win in the opening round of the tournament as Defoor scored 31 points. Simmons then defeated Crown College as Jayla Johnson finished with 19 points.

The victory in Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota, on Saturday capped a seven-game winning streak for Simmons to end the season and claim the national title.

"The Lady Falcons of Simmons College of Kentucky made history this weekend, and there is no better time to celebrate them, their hard work and their accomplishments than during Women’s History Month," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said. "We are working to make Louisville the women’s sports capital of the United States, and the incredible players and coaching staff of the Lady Falcons are leading the way. Congratulations – we are so proud that Simmons College calls Louisville home."

Defoor and Naria Reed were selected to the All-Tournament team. 

University of Louisville men's basketball legend Jerry Eaves, the athletic director at Simmons, said he never expected the women to win it all.

"That is not the goal," he said Monday. "The goal is to make sure we mentor kids and put them out for the proper reasons."

But in a season where both Louisville and Indiana will miss the madness of March, people are still celebrating and flying high with the Lady Falcons.

"My phone hasn't stopped ringing yet," Ruffin said. "It hasn't stopped ringing yet."

Founded in 1879, Simmons is Louisville's only Historically Black College and University. To learn more about Simmons College, click here. 

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