Connect with us

soccer

No. 12 Pima Upsets No. 15 Illinois Central in Thrilling Women’s Basketball Clash

Published

on

No. 12 Pima women's basketball beats No. 15 Illinois Central

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team, now boasting a record of 3-1, faced a pivotal challenge in NJCAA Division II action on Thursday. The Aztecs, ranked No. 12, squared off against the No. 15 Illinois Central College Panthers, emerging victorious with a score of 90-77 at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.

This high-stakes matchup was marked by intense competition, featuring 11 ties throughout the game, with seven occurring in the first half alone. After falling behind 46-44 midway through the third quarter, the Aztecs launched a decisive 15-6 run—surging ahead to 59-52. By the end of the quarter, Pima had outscored Illinois Central 31-19, establishing a 68-58 lead heading into the final period.

Freshman Kiley Sours-Miller and Rori Hoffmeyer, a standout from Cibola High School, helped spark a commanding 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter. This offensive surge brought the Aztecs’ lead to a game-high 20 points at 78-58. From that point, the Panthers struggled to close the gap, never getting within 12 points again.

Remarkably, the Aztecs initially trailed in the first quarter but rallied with a 12-2 run to end the period ahead 20-16. Illinois Central regained momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Pima 16-6 in the first six minutes to take a 32-26 lead. However, freshman Ahdiayh Chee, coming off the bench, delivered five consecutive points to swing the lead back to Pima at 33-32. By halftime, the score was 39-37 in favor of Illinois Central, but the Aztecs dominated the second half, outpacing their opponent 53-38.

Sours-Miller was a standout performer, recording a double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds, shooting an impressive 13-of-18 from the floor. Hoffmeyer also made significant contributions, finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, freshman Melicia Nelson had a well-rounded performance, tallying six points, 11 assists, five steals, and three rebounds. Sophomore Kennedi Niemann added nine points, while sophomores Tayden Hanks, Mattanaya Vital from Amphitheater High, and Chee each chipped in eight points.

The Aztecs are poised for a brief respite from game action, set to return to the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium next Wednesday. They will commence ACCAC conference play against Phoenix College, scheduled for 5:30 p.m.