Eastern Arizona College Wins First NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Eastern Arizona College women's basketball made history Tuesday night, capturing the program's first NJCAA Division I National Championship with a 57–51 win to close out a dominant 33–2 season.

The Gila Monsters, led by head coach Angelica DePaulo and assistant coaches Christopher Corona, John Smallwood, and Rene Molinar, delivered a performance built on toughness and composure. It capped a five‑year climb that included national tournament appearances in 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025 before finally breaking through for the title in 2026.

EAC stayed steady in a defensive battle and found timely scoring across the lineup. Esmeralda Enriquez led the way with 16 points and three threes, while Eanae Dagons added 12 points and five rebounds. Danaeja Romero- Ah Sam came off the bench with 14 points and hit three shots from deep that shifted momentum in the second half. The Monsters also got key contributions from Lucia Auza, Trinity Carmouche, Stephany Goncalves, and a bench unit that outscored its opponent 20–13.

Eastern Arizona locked in defensively after halftime, holding New Mexico Junior College to eight points in the third quarter and controlling the final minutes with disciplined execution. The Monsters' defensive rebounding and perimeter pressure helped close out the championship on their terms.

Following the win, Enriquez, Romero- Ah Sam and Dagons were named to the All‑Tournament Team. Enriquez earned Tournament MVP honors after a consistent week of scoring and leadership. Coach DePaulo was selected as Coach of the Tournament.

Eastern Arizona College returns home with the first women's basketball national championship in school history, a milestone built on years of growth, belief, and a team that refused to back down from the moment. The Gila Monsters are national champions, and the standard has been set for seasons to come.