(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College women’s basketball team (26-4) is heading back to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The No. 1 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 2 Mesa Community College 80-73 on Friday in the Region I, Division II Championship game. The Aztecs claimed their ninth Region I, Division II and West District crowns under coach Todd Holthaus and their 10th title overall (Southwest District Champions in 2020-21).
The Aztecs and the Thunderbirds (21-8) put on another classic as there were six ties and five lead changes in the contest. Neither team led by double digits.
The Aztecs trailed 73-70 with 4:11 left after Meisha Caserio converted on two free throws. Those free throws would be Mesa’s final points of the game as the Aztecs closed it out with a 10-0 run. Freshmen Reigne Waugh and Lucy Fisher (Mesquite HS) scored the final 10 Pima points.
The Aztecs took a 10-4 lead but the Thunderbirds tied it at 18-18 to close the opening stanza after outscoring Pima 14-8 in the final 6:30. The Thunderbirds scored the first five points of the second quarter, but the Aztecs countered with six straight points of their own. Mesa took their biggest lead of the game at 34-28, but the Aztecs battled back. Sophomore Cassie Coolidge (Sahuaro HS) was fouled with 30 seconds left and hit all three of her free throws to put Pima ahead 41-39 at halftime.
The Aztecs maintained a slim lead for much of the third quarter. Up 53-49, Fisher and Coolidge scored the next two baskets to give Pima their biggest lead at 57-49 (eight points). The Aztecs were up 66-61 with 8:41 left after Coolidge drained a three-pointer but the Thunderbirds used a 12-4 run in four and a half minutes to retake the lead at 73-70. Mesa went scoreless in the final 4:11 of the game.
Pima suffered their only home loss at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium (15-1) against Mesa on Jan. 7 but won the next three meetings.
“Mesa is probably one of the most well-respected programs in the state and I always enjoy playing them because I know it’s going to be a dog fight,” Pima women’s basketball coach Todd Holthaus said. “We learned our lesson in the first meeting (71-60 home loss on Jan. 7). It was a wake-up call for the freshman because they understood now what the Mesa matchup was all about. The intensity, the competitiveness and how both teams go at each other.”
This was the 14th meeting between the Aztecs and the Thunderbirds in the Region I, Division II Finals. The home team has claimed victory in 12 of the 14 matchups.
Fisher finished with a team-high 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting to go with nine rebounds and two assists.
Sophomore Kiley Sours-Miller (Dream City) posted her 13th double-double this season as she closed out the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds on 9-for-14 shooting.
“It is sweeter to cut down our nets after cutting theirs last year. We did it for (Coach) Ros (Jim Rosborough). It was the sophomores’ last home game, and we had to come out and ball our hearts out,” Sours-Miller said. “I could care less about scoring as long as we were up at the end of the buzzer. I know what I had to do, and Melicia Nelson put us on her back and she ran, ran, ran and ran. We fed off of her energy.”
Nelson was named the Region I, Division II Finals Most Valuable Player after she finished with her sixth double-double of the season. She had 16 points, nine rebounds, 13 assists and two steals.
“I came out here and played with all I had and to play one last time on this floor was great,” Nelson said. “I feel ready and the girls are ready too (for Nationals). I think we have a good group. We’re going to make a huge run again.”
The Aztecs will play in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament from Mar. 16-21 in Hickey, NC. The Selection Show will be on Tuesday, Mar. 10 at 5:00 p.m. (ET); 3:00 p.m. (Tucson time) reflecting the Daylight Saving times change occurring this Sunday.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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