(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College women’s basketball team (9-2) got back in the win column on Saturday in its final game before the holiday break.
The No. 9 ranked Aztecs defeated Park University JV 72-41 as Pima hosted the fourth annual Indigenous People’s Game at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
The Aztecs held the Buccaneers scoreless for almost 10 minutes as they took advantage with a 30-4 lead between the first and second quarters. Pima led 41-14 at halftime.
Park University JV opened the third quarter on a 12-2 run to cut the lead to 43-26 but the Aztecs responded with a 12-4 run to go up 55-30 entering the fourth quarter.
Freshman Kiley Sours-Miller was the only Aztec player to score in double figures with 10 points on 5 for 7 shooting. She also grabbed five rebounds.
Freshman Kennedi Niemann scored nine points to go with three steals and two rebounds while freshman Ahdiayh Chee (Dobson HS) finished with eight points.
Freshman Melicia Nelson (Window Rock HS) posted six points to go with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals while sophomore Amelie Buffill-Gutierrez (Sabino HS) went 3 for 4 from the field with six points. Freshman Lucy Land added six points, three rebounds, two steals and one block and sophomore Mattanaya Vital (Amphitheater HS) also had six points.
Pima Chancellor Dr. Jeffrey Nasse welcomed all to the fans to the game and recognized the five current Native American players on the team: Noheah Aberle (Navajo), Keira Beall-Gleason (Navajo, Sicangu Lakota), Sofia Cambridge (Navajo, Ute), Ahdiayh Chee (Navajo, Sioux, Lakota) and Melicia Nelson (Navajo, Mescalero Apache). Gloria Johns gave a pre-game blessing and Kylee Toehe sang the Native American National Anthem. Steven Pratt performed a POW WOW dance and Jorge Gonzales performed a Hoop Dance. Former Aztecs player Tayla Nez was a guest of honor.
The Aztecs will be back at Aztec Gymnasium when they host the Aztec Holiday Classic from Dec. 28-30. They begin play on Saturday, Dec. 28 against Cochise College. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m.
PARK 4 10 16 11 41
PIMA 16 25 14 17 72
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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