Pima Community College sports

No. 12 Pima women win seventh straight game after rallying to beat Scottsdale


Pima’s Priscila Varela (Stephanie van Latum/Special to AllSportsTucson.com)

Pima’s media relations department contributed to this report:

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team displayed how it can overcome adversity on the court in its matchup on Wednesday at Scottsdale.

The No. 12 Aztecs (18-4, 11-3 in ACCAC) defeated the Artichokes 75-66 for their seventh straight win and 12th victory in the last 13 games.

The Aztecs took a 25-13 lead after the first quarter and were up 27-15 after a basket by sophomore Angel Addleman (Palo Verde grad) but from there, the Aztecs went almost nine minutes without a field goal and the Artichokes (13-7, 8-6) took advantage.

Sophomore Priscila Varela hit a jumper with 32 seconds left to halt the drought. The Aztecs went into the locker room trailing 33-30. They were outscored 20-5 for the quarter.

Sophomore Torrance Begay made sure the Aztecs had a quick start in the third quarter as she scored nine straight points for Pima and with help from Varela and freshman Dominique Acosta (Nogales), the Aztecs put together a 15-2 run to go up 45-35.

Sophomore Luisa Chavez (Rio Rico) capped off the quarter with a 3-pointer as Pima outscored the Artichokes 27-12 and led 57-45 entering the fourth quarter.

The Aztecs’ lead never fell below seven points in the fourth quarter.

Chavez led the way with a team-high 19 points as she went 4 for 7 from 3-point range. She also added nine rebounds and four assists. Begay went 6 for 8 from the field and finished with 16 points.

Addleman posted 12 points as she went 4 for 6 from the field. She also had nine rebounds and two assists. Varela had 12 points along with four rebounds and four assists.

Sophomore Matehya Aberle had eight points and six rebounds while Acosta finished with six points, seven rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

The Aztecs swept the regular season meetings with the Artichokes as they won 75-62 on Dec. 7 at the West Campus Aztec Gym. Pima faces a tough test Saturday when they play at No. 23 Cochise College, a Division I power. Pima is classified as Division II. Tipoff is set for 4:00 p.m.

PIMA MEN GO COLD IN LOSS TO SCOTTSDALE

The 14th-ranked Pima men’s team (18-4, 10-4 in ACCAC) couldn’t capitalize on shots down the stretch on Wednesday at Scottsdale (18-4, 10-4) in a 90-80 loss.

The Aztecs took their final lead at 73-71 after sophomore Traivar Jackson hit a pair of free throws with 7:56 left in the game. After that, the Aztecs made just two field goals and the Artichokes closed it out going on a 19-7 run.

The Aztecs held a slim advantage for much of the first half as the teams traded baskets.

Pima went on a 7-0 run to widen their lead to 35-27 but the Artichokes scored the next five points to close the gap to 35-32.

Pima led 43-41 and got a 3-pointer from freshman Jamison Kay and back-to-back buckets by sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino) to take their biggest lead at 50-41 but Scottsdale again closed in with four straight points. The Aztecs led 50-45 at the break.

The Artichokes went ahead 58-55 with 15:46 left in the game but the Aztecs countered with a 10-0 run as Kay and freshman Mike Pope drained 3-pointers. Jackson’s basket inside the paint made it 65-58 with 13:54 left. The Aztecs were up 67-60 but Scottsdale put together an 11-4 run in four minutes to tie it at 71-71.

Jackson finished with a game-high 28 points as he also posted seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks.

Saenz added 15 points to go along with nine assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Pope and freshman Jaylen Alexander each contributed with 10 points.

The Aztecs split the head-to-head meetings with the Artichokes during the regular season as Pima won the first contest 98-84 on Dec. 7 at home.

The Aztecs, classified as Division II, face another tough test on Saturday as they play at No. 16 (Division I) Cochise College (20-2, 14-0). Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

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