The following is a list of some of the top women athletes who excelled for the Pima Aztecs in the last decade (2010-19):
Jacqulynn “JJ” Nakai, who is now playing at Nevada after starring for Pima coach Todd Holthaus, was a first-team NJCAA All-American selection in consecutive years (2017-18 and 2018-19). She averaged 24.1 points and became Pima’s career leader with 1,397 points and 442 assists. First Pima women’s basketball player to be named outright the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
Shauna Bribiescas earned second team All-American and All-ACCAC and first team All-Region I, Division II last season. She finished with 13 double-doubles on the season in points and rebounds. She averaged 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game and played in all 36 games; making 35 starts.
Katherine Bruno, a CDO grad now at St. John’s, earned 2018 NJCAA All-America honors following a sixth-place finish in the 3,000 meter run at the NJCAA Division I Championship with a time of 12:10.62. Won three ACCAC distance running and cross country events and finished fifth in the NJCAA at 1,500 meters.
Desiree Hong, a Sahuaro grad who went on to be part of Arizona’s NCAA title team in 2018. She was the ACCAC women’s golfer of the year in 2016 and 2017. Also named an NJCAA All-American in both years at Pima. Scoring average of 74.8 per round with the Aztecs.
Sydni Stallworth, first-team NJCAA All-American point guard in 2016 and 2017 who graduated from Palo Verde High School. ACCAC Division II Player of the Year each season. Played at Alaska-Anchorage. Scored 1,103 career points (16.5 points per game).
Daniela Sanchez, a former Sabino standout, was selected first-team All-ACCAC as a goalkeeper in 2016 with 109 saves in 22 starts. In her two-year career, she had a save percentage of 85.6 percent tallying 223 saves.
Brandi Park, who as a four-year letter winner at Sabino, earned first-team All-ACCAC honors in 2015 before playing at Arizona in 2016 and 2017. Was a second-Team NJCAA All-American as a midfielder and defender. Earned 49 points off 14 goals and 21 assists in her two years with the Aztecs.
Devyn Hunley, another Sabino standout who is the daughter of former Arizona football standout LaMonte Hunley, was a 2014 and 2015 first-team All-ACCAC pick in soccer. She was also a second-team NJCAA All-American in 2015. She was named the NJCAA Region 1 MVP in 2015. Compiled 28 goals and 17 assists while starting 47 of 48 games for Pima. Went on to excel at UTEP.
Alexis Alfonso, a CDO standout, went 27-7 in the circle for the Aztecs as a sophomore in 2015 as she registered a 3.36 ERA to go along with one save and 127 strikeouts in her 214 1/3 innings of work in her 39 appearances with 34 starts. She also provided a spark at the plate for the Aztecs, hitting .381 with three doubles and eight home runs to drive in 30 RBIs for a slugging percentage of .702 while walking 11 times in 84 at-bats. Went on to play at West Texas A&M.
Kaysee Pilgrim, who went on to UNLV, won the 2015 indoor and outdoor NJCAA high jump championship. Her indoor mark was 5-10.5 and outdoor performance was 5-7.75. She also placed first in the 2014 NJCAA indoor high jump championships at 5-6. Holds UNLV’s record in the high jump for the indoor (6-0) and outdoor (6-0.75). Named the 2015-2016 Sportswoman of the Year for the Rebels.
Shannon Shields of Sabino was a first-team NJCAA soccer All-American in 2014. Went on to play at Arkansas-Little Rock. At Pima, played in and started 23 games as a sophomore. Led ACCAC with 21 goals, including six game-winning goal. Added in eight assists for 50 points. Helped Pima to the NJCAA Tournament. Also NSCAA Junior College second-team All-American and named to All-West Region Team.
Alexis Dotson, first-team NJCAA All-American softball outfielder in 2014 who went on to excel for Mike Candrea’s program for three years at Arizona. Led NJCAA wtih 111 hits and batted .516 overall with 12 triples, 38 RBI and 36 stolen bases.
Raja Moreno-Ross, a Tucson grad who went on to play at Hawaii-Hilo, was a first-team NJCAA All-American in 2013-14. She started all 32 games for the Aztecs that season, averaging almost 25 minutes, 13 points and nine rebounds per game. She also had 12 double-doubles on the season and was also named first-team All-ACCAC and first-team All-Region I, Division II.
A’jha Edwards of Tombstone High School earned first-team NJCAA All-American status while at Pima in 2013-14. After Pima, Edwards played for Montana State-Northern where she earned multiple NAIA National Division I Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors. Edwards went on to be named NAIA All-American as well as a first team WBCA All-American after he senior year.
Brianna Rodriguez, a Cienega grad, won the 2014 NJCAA long jump championship with leap of 18-11 3/4. The performance allowed her to claim a first-team NJCAA All-American distinction in the outdoor long jump. She also won the region title in the long jump that year.
Yvette Alvarez of Sahuarita was a 2013 NJCAA first-team All-American pitcher. She batted .405 with 19 homers and 92 RBIs. She had a 33-14 record throwing 298.0 innings with a 2.02 ERA and 214 strikeouts. Went on to excel at Indiana State.
Gemma Contreras, Salpointe grad, batted .388 with 38 steals for a Pima team that finished third nationally in 2013. First-team all-region selection by the NFCA.
Cynthia Pelayo, another first-team all-region selection by the NFCA. Batted .440 with 73 run, 91 hits, three home runs, 61 RBI, 32 walks and 23 stolen bases in 2013.
Mari Contreras, a Sunnyside grad, won 29 games in 2011 and struck out 278 batters in 205 innings. First-team All-ACCAC selection who won 20 games helping Pima win the Region I title.
Nadi Carey, sister of Ka’Deem Carey, starred at CDO before becoming an All-ACCAC guard at Pima in 2011. Carey became a starter for NCAA Division II Texas-Permian Basin. She presently is a high school basketball referee in Southern Arizona.
Jordan Trujillo, All-ACCAC and second-team NJCAA All-American pitcher. Led her team to a 57-11 record last year while going 31-6 in the circle with an ERA of 1.56, which was good enough for second in the region, while her 280 strikeouts were tops in the region. Named 2010 Region I Player of the Year and NFCA First Team All-West Region. Went on to play for Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Kaity Ingram, shortstop from Catalina Foothills, hit .467 in 2010 and led the ACCAC with 90 runs. Went on to play at New Mexico. First-team All-America for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and was a second-team All-America selection for the NJCAA. Hit .467 as a sophomore with 90 runs scored, 51 RBIs, 14 doubles, 11 triples, five home runs and 32 stolen bases.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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