(#6 seed) Aztecs @PimaWBB IS HEADING TO THE NJCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME beating (#2 seed) Baltimore CCBC Essex 115-112 in overtime. #PimaBasketball #AztecTOUGH pic.twitter.com/Btf40qYDkY
— PimaAthletics (@PimaAthletics) March 22, 2025
Things looked dire when No. 6 Pima was down by eight points to No. 2 Baltimore CCBC Essex with one minute left in regulation.
But the Aztecs would not be denied an opportunity to advance to their first national championship game appearance in 14 years.
The sixth-seeded Aztecs rallied to force overtime and held off the Knights 115-112 to advance to the NJCAA Division II national championship game at Joplin, Mo.
Pima (29-7) will play No. 4 Overland Park (Kan.) Johnson County (32-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday. Johnson County upset No. 1 Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kirkwood 66-60 on Friday.
In Pima’s win over CCBC Essex, the Aztecs trailed 98-90 when the clock showed 1 minute left in regulation.
The key to the comeback was Amphi graduate Mattanaya Vital’s 4-point play with 46 seconds left. She was fouled while making a 3-pointer and followed with the free throw to cut the lead to 98-95.
CCBC Essex immediately committed a turnover after a timeout and Kiley Sours-Miller made a jump shot to cut the lead to 98-97 with 32 seconds left.
After Gigi Gamble made one of two free-throw attempts with 26 seconds left, Sours-Miller made a putback with 9 seconds remaining to tie the game at 99.
After a timeout, Gamble missed a jump shot with 4 seconds left and time ran out before Pima could take a shot.
In overtime, Kennedi Niemann scored nine of her 17 points in the game, beginning with a jumper and a 3-point shot to put the Aztecs ahead 104-99 with 3:43 remaining.
Pima traded baskets with CCBC Essex, which cut the lead to 108-106 with 1:42 left.
Pima’s Rori Hoffmeyer responded with a jumper with 1:21 remaining.
CCBC Essex missed two shots and committed a turnover in its next two possessions.
Niemann’s layup with 30 seconds remaining increased the lead to 112-106.
After a Gamble 3-pointer with 19 seconds left, Niemann made two free throws with 15 seconds left to give the Aztecs a 114-109 lead.
Gamble made another 3-pointer with 7 seconds left to cut the lead to 114-112.
After Vital was fouled with 2 seconds left, she made one of two free throws. CCBC Essex rebounded her miss on the second attempt but could not get a shot off in time.
Sours-Miller, who was with Arizona State’s program last year, finished with 31 points on 14-of-23 shots from the field with nine rebounds.
Hoffmeyer had 23 points (11 of 17 shooting from the field) and nine rebounds.
Mattanaya had 18 points and seven assists and Melicia Nelson finished with nine points and 13 assists.
Reserve guard Amelie Buffill–Gutierrez of Sabino had 13 points and seven assists. She made 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range.
Recommended for you
