Pima sophomore guard Mattanaya Vital, an Amphitheater High School graduate, finished with a game-high 18 points in the No. 11 Aztecs’ crucial 66-55 win at rival Mesa on Saturday.
Pima (23-5, 14-3 ACCAC) handed Mesa (22-7, 16-1) its first ACCAC Division II loss this season.
The Aztecs dropped their previous two meetings to the Thunderbirds, falling 74-57 on Dec. 11 and 63-59 on Jan. 29.
Pima led 35-32 at halftime and went on to outscore Mesa 19-12 in the third quarter.
Vital went 7 for 13 from the field and 4 for 8 from beyond the arc.
Freshman Kiley Sours-Miller (with nearby Arizona State last season) gained her 13th double-double of the season — 14 points and 12 rebounds. She went 7 for 8 from the field.
Freshman Melicia Nelson added 12 points and seven assists while freshman Kennedi Niemann was the fourth Pima player to score in double figures with 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting.
Sophomore Rori Hoffmeyer had seven points, 12 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals.
The Aztecs have a 1 1/2-game lead on Scottsdale for the No. 2 seed and will close the regular season against the Artichokes Saturday at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
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