by The Pima Community College women’s basketball team (23-8) advanced to the NJCAA Region I, Division II championship round after trouncing Glendale Community College on Tuesday at the West Campus Gymnasium.
The No. 2 seeded Aztecs defeated the Gauchos 99-59 after outscoring them 52-26 in the second half. The Aztecs advanced and play No. 1 seeded Mesa Community College on Saturday. This will be the 10th time in 11 years the Aztecs and the Thunderbirds will meet in the finals. The home team has been victorious in each meeting.
The Aztecs led 47-33 at halftime but poured it on to start the third quarter. Sophomore Alliyah Bryant (Mesquite HS) scored on a four-point play and sophomore Izzy Spruit (Mesquite HS) hit a three-pointer. It turned into an 11-0 to make it 58-33 with 7:51 left in the quarter. The Aztecs outscored the Gauchos 32-16 in the third quarter.
Spruit led the Aztecs with a team-high 17 points on 6 for 10 shooting and 5 for 9 from three-point range. Freshman Jacqulynn Nakai (Navajo) finished with 14 points, six assists and two steals while sophomore Christine Ortega (Flowing Wells HS) also scored 14 points on 6 for 6 shooting.
Freshman RyLeigh Long scored 14 points on 4 for 8 shooting to go along with four rebounds, four steals and three assists off the bench. Sophomore Aubre Fortner contributed with 11 points and three blocks. Freshman Shauna Bribiescas came close to a double-double as she had eight points and nine rebounds.
The Aztecs and the Thunderbirds will tip off on Saturday in Mesa at 7:00 p.m.
