HICKORY, N.C. - Little did Brittany West know she was starting what would become a family tradition when she joined the Iowa Central women's basketball program in 2017.

She would go on to become an All-American for the Tritons before playing for William Penn.

Now, her sister, Isabell West, and cousin, Carley West, are starters for the Tritons, who play in the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at 8 p.m.

"It's really rewarding and I'm glad we get to share this experience as a team," said Carley West, a freshman. "It's really exciting going to pay in the national tournament, especially because this is my first year."

As the point guard, Carley has transitioned herself into the distributor on the court while overcoming the changes of the college game, including the addition of a shot clock. She is averaging nearly 11 points per game, shooting 42 percent from the field with 47 assists and 38 steals.

"That was a huge adjustment for me," Carley said. "And it's a more fast-paced game, but I have adjusted well to it."

For Isabell West, this was the culmination in a long process that included her being named the ICCAC Player of the Year this past season while ranking among the national leaders in points and rebounds. West enters nationals averaging 19.6 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.

"This team has really made this season so rewarding," she said. "I couldn't ask for more of the freshmen and other sophomores. We took care of business and it paid off.

"To end my last season here at Iowa Central heading to the national tournament is very exciting and I am very grateful."

Iowa Central also welcomed in a new head coach this season in Brian Ortmeier, who replaced the retired Kelly Kruger.

"He came in and got right to work and we got right to work with him," Isabell said. "We all have the same goal so it wasn't that hard to adjust. 

"Since it was a short season, we didn't have the extra games to help us get it together so we struggled a bit in the beginning. But once we got it together, we knew what we could accomplish and we did just that."

-By Dana Becker