The No. 4 Pima Community College women’s basketball team rallied to beat No. 1 Overland Park (Kan.) Johnson County 68-67 to advance to the NJCAA Division II national championship game at Hickory, N.C.
The Aztecs (29-4) extended their winning streak to 17 games with the win over previously unbeaten Johnson County, which defeated Pima in the national title game last season.
The Cavaliers (34-1) are relegated to the third-place game Saturday.
Pima will play in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m. against either Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Kirkwood or Illinois Central. Kirkwood and Illinois Central played in the other semifinal game Friday night.
FINAL SECONDS!!!! #PimaBasketball #AztecTOUGH #NATTYBound pic.twitter.com/ZuOa0Vqv10
— PimaAthletics (@PimaAthletics) March 20, 2026
Pima scored the last six points of the game against Johnson County after trailing 67-62 with 2:34 remaining.
Kiley Sours-Miller, who had 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, cut the lead to 67-64 on a layup with 2:22 left.
After a turnover and foul by Johnson County, Melicia Nelson made two free throws with 2:01 remaining to cut the lead to 67-66.
Nelson finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and six steals to lead the Aztecs.
After Johnson County could not convert on consecutive possessions because of a turnover and missed shot, Nelson put Pima ahead 68-67 on another layup with 28 seconds left.
Johnson County waited until the last second to attempt a shot and Mia Adams could not convert at the buzzer while being double-teamed. A Johnson County player retrieved the ball on the baseline but her shot was blocked by Kahlia Gonzales.
Reigne Waugh added 10 points for Pima, which will play in a national title game for the third time in the program’s history, all under coach Todd Holthaus.
Pima lost to Monroe (N.Y.) College 78-74 in 2010-11 in addition to the 75-67 defeat last season to Johnson County.
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