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Lake Charles Today
By the People, for the People
NMJC women stun No. 1 Butler Community College to reach NJCAA Elite Eight
New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds erase 16-point deficit as Jada Graves scores 33 and Luisa Amaral hits game-winning three.
Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:53pm
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The 16th-seeded New Mexico Junior College women's basketball team knocked off top-ranked Butler Community College 82-79 in overtime on Thursday to advance to the Elite Eight of the NJCAA DI Women's Basketball Championship. NMJC stormed back from 16 points down with eight minutes to go, executing clutch plays at the end of regulation and overtime, to beat Butler (32-2).
Why it matters
This is a major upset in the NJCAA tournament, with the 16th-seeded Thunderbirds taking down the No. 1 team in the country. It showcases the competitiveness and unpredictability of the tournament, where any team can pull off a surprise win on any given day.
The details
In overtime, Butler rallied late to tie it at 79-79 with 22 seconds to go. On the ensuing possession, NMJC star Jada Graves drove to the basket and passed out of the double-team to Luisa Amaral, who nailed the go-ahead three-pointer with 5 seconds to go to seal the win for the Thunderbirds.
- The game tipped off at 10 a.m. MDT on Saturday, March 26, 2026.
- NMJC trailed by 16 points with 8 minutes remaining in regulation.
- Luisa Amaral hit the game-winning three-pointer with 5 seconds left in overtime.
The players
Jada Graves
The star player for NMJC, leading the NJCAA in points per game (19.3) and second in assists (7.0).
Luisa Amaral
The NMJC player who hit the game-winning three-pointer in overtime to defeat Butler.
Mya Mayberry
The leading scorer for Butler Community College, scoring 19 points and going 6-of-12 from the three-point line.
What’s next
The 16th-seeded NMJC Thunderbirds will play the winner of No. 8 Walters State Community College and No. 9 State Fair Community College on Saturday in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The takeaway
This stunning upset by the 16th-seeded NMJC Thunderbirds over the No. 1 Butler Community College Grizzlies showcases the unpredictability and competitiveness of the NJCAA tournament, where any team can pull off a surprise win on any given day.
