(Tucson, AZ) The game started off slow as both teams felt each other out and poor shooting lead to an 8-2 Pima lead with over half of the first period gone. Mesa College didn’t score until the 5:47 mark.
Both teams picked up the pace the second half of the opening quarter with the Thunderbirds driving the ball and the Aztecs shooting from outside. Pima lead after one quarter 18 – 12 over the visiting Thunderbirds of Mesa College.
Mesa continued to drive the ball off the dribble but the Aztecs would cut off the penetration and too many missed one to two foot shots with most of the Thunderbirds in the lane would create fast break opportunities for Pima to score. Pima went up by eleven 29-18 with 3:10 left to go till halftime.
Pima turned on the jets and went on a 11-3 run to end the half 40-21.
Brianna Pitre and J.J. Nakai lead the Aztecs with nine points apiece and Shauna Bribiescas with seven points.
Pima moved the ball around the perimeter making the extra pass for wide open looks. Mesa would drive and pound the ball inside consistently, but missed a lot of easy looks.
The second half began totally oppposite of the first quarter. Both teams came out using their strengths working their offense. Pima with the perimeter in Mesa looking down low trying to use her size advantage.
With 2:35 left in the third, Head Coach Todd Holthaus called time out with a 59-37 advantage on things he saw that he didn’t like and a teaching moment.
Both offenses woke up and at the end of the three quarters Pima lead 63-42.
Mesa piced up their tempo knowing they would have to force the action in trying to cut into the huge Aztec lead.
Fourth quarter Pima played good defense and make few mistakes not allowing the Thunderbirds to make a dent in the lead.
In the end, Pima’s J.J. Nakai’s thirty two points and Shauna Bribiescas twelve points that doomed the Thunderbirds.
The victory improved Pima to 3-4 in conference and 7-8 overall. Pima hosts South Mountain College on January 7th at 5:30 pm
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