BEL AIR, Md. - The Harford women's basketball team claimed its third-straight NJCAA Division I Region XX Championship by defeating Baltimore City, 69-59, on Thursday. The Fighting Owls are now one win away from their first NJCAA National Tournament appearance.

Last week, the Fighting Owls earned their first MD JUCO Tournament Championship. On Thursday, Harford toppled BCCC for the third consecutive time when the Region Title was on the line.

Things seemed to be going Baltimore City's way early, as the Panthers outmuscled Harford to a 20-11 lead midway through the first. The Fighting Owls picked up their game and responded with a 19-9 spurt to take the lead for good at 30-29 with 1:56 left.

Harford finished the half scoring the final six points and then opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run to extend to take a 42-29 lead. The Fighting Owl defense held BCCC scoreless for 7:00 where they went 0-for-5 and turned the ball over five times. An 11-1 run put BCCC back in it late, but the Panthers would get no closer.

Ashley Smith netted a team-high 16 points and Ashley Hightower recorded another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Mia Fitts and Jazmin Johnson both tallied 13 markers in the win and Zana Godoy swished three big triples in the first-half run to get Harford back on track.

The Fighting Owls now host ASA in the NJCAA District C Championship Game inside the APGFCU Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Thursday's win was Harford's 26th victory, a new school record, besting the 2012-13 squad who finished 25-4.