(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College women’s basketball team (7-3, 4-2 in ACCAC) started off the fourth quarter with a huge run but were forced to knock down its free throws in the end to seal the win.
The No. 11 Aztecs defeated Tohono O’odham Community College 81-74 as Pima earned their fourth win in five games heading into the winter break. The Aztecs had played four games in the last eight days and went 3-1.
With the score tied at 55-55 entering the fourth quarter, the Aztecs went on a 17-2 run in the first five and a half minutes to take their biggest lead of the game at 72-57 (15 points). The Jegos (5-7, 1-5) produced a rally themselves going on a 17-5 run to cut the Aztecs’ lead to 77-74.
Freshman Aaliyah Ortiz (Palo Verde HS) knocked down a pair of free throws to put it back at a five-point advantage. On the ensuing inbounds, Ortiz snagged the steal and sophomore Hallie Lawson (Campo Verde HS) hit a pair of foul shots to seal it.
The Aztecs took a 24-13 lead after the first quarter but were outscored 28-14 in the second quarter. The Aztecs trailed 41-38 at the break.
All four sophomores scored in double figures and were led by Lawson, who went 10 for 16 from the field and finished with 22 points. Fellow sophomore Marlena Arroyo-Plata (Campo Verde HS) contributed with 16 points on 7 for 11 shooting to go along with six rebounds. Haile Gleason hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points off the bench. Alyssa Perez (Marana HS) had 10 points and six rebounds.
“The sophomores were huge tonight,” Pima women’s basketball coach Todd Holthaus said. “We weren’t as sharp as I wanted; but we won.”
Ortiz struggled from the field as she had five points (0-5 shooting) but she had seven rebounds, nine assists and four steals.
The Aztecs will be on winter break and will return for the annual Bruce Fleck Classic from Dec. 30-Jan 1. They’ll open the invitational against Arizona Christian University JV on Monday, Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m.
TOCC 13 28 14 19 74
PCC 24 14 17 26 81
Press Release by Pima Athletics
