Pima media-relations director Ray Suarez contributed information for this report:
The Pima Community College women’s basketball team returned to action in the NJCAA Division II Tournament with a victory in the consolation bracket on Wednesday in Joplin, MO.
The No. 13 Aztecs (25-9) defeated No. 12 Parkland College 79-66 to advance in the seventh-place consolation bracket.
Pima will play their next game on Friday morning at 7 (Tucson time) against No. 11 Southern Arkansas University Tech.
Wednesday’s game went back and forth in the first quarter with eight lead changes and three ties as the Cobras (26-7) took a 23-21 lead.
The Aztecs held the Cobras scoreless for almost five minutes in the second quarter and took advantage with an 11-0 run to take a 32-23 lead.
Freshman Gabby Lopez (Bisbee) hit a jumper as time expired to put the score at 39-27 at halftime.
The Aztecs outscored the Cobras 18-4 for the quarter.
Pima scored the first four points of the third quarter to continue the run.
The Cobras cut it to single digits at 49-40 with 4:15 left in the third quarter but the Aztecs countered with a 13-3 run to close out the quarter.
Sophomore Taina Lee drained a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded putting Pima up 62-43.
The Aztecs went 11 of 19 from the field in the third quarter.
They maintained their 20-point advantage for much of the fourth quarter.
Freshman Rylei Waugh led Pima with 21 points on 7-for-18 shooting. She went 6 for 6 from the free throw line and had five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Sophomore Dominique Acosta (Nogales) went 8 for 13 from the field and posted her 11th double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points and 13 rebounds. She has two double-doubles in the tournament.
“The game went really well and I feel like we all played as team,” Acosta said. “Yes, we’re not in the winner’s bracket, but we still have the opportunity to play.
“We are blessed to be here at nationals and I feel like our work here isn’t done just yet. That’s the key. Knowing that we are here, and knowing that others didn’t have the opportunity to do so, we just have to make the most of it. I’d say top 10 in the nation doesn’t sound bad at all. We just have to be blessed that we’re all here and we get to still play together.”
Lopez went 4 for 4 from the field, including making her lone 3-point attempt. She was 6 for 6 from the foul line as she scored 15 points to go with four rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore Jordan Joe scored 10 points off the bench and freshman Rori Hoffmeyer contributed with nine points and four rebounds.
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