Pima has gone 12-0 and has clinched the top seed of next week’s NJCAA Region I, Division II tournament since its last loss of the season Jan. 7 against rival Mesa at home.
The Aztecs (24-4, 16-2 ACCAC) have defeated Mesa (19-7, 13-4) twice since that loss 50 days ago, including 74-60 on Wednesday night at the West Campus Aztec Gym.
The halftime retirement ceremony for longtime Arizona men’s hoops assistant and Pima women’s assistant Jim Rosborough made for a festive atmosphere.
“Maybe we grew up a little bit,” Pima coach Todd Holthaus said of the Aztecs’ surge over the last two months. “Maybe for the freshman they understand a little bit better what Mesa is all about. … You want to get better toward the end of the year.
“It’s on the coaches and the kids figure things out. We’ve done a good job getting them ready and they’ve trusted in what we’re trying to teach them.”
.@PimaWBB coach Todd Holthaus talks about his team’s play riding a 12-game winning streak into next week’s regional tournament at West Aztec Gym and about the retirement ceremony of Jim Rosborough, who he has known of since when he was being raised in Iowa and Lute Olson and… pic.twitter.com/g1hwnIcrlr
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) February 26, 2026
Freshman starters Reigne Waugh of Inglewood (Calif.) Westchester and Lucy Fisher and Kahlia Gonzales of Gilbert Mesquite are symbolic of how the new wave of players have advanced.
Waugh finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals. She is the younger sister of former Aztec guard Rylei Waugh, who is now with San Jose State.
Fisher had 15 rebounds and Gonzales finished with seven rebounds and four assists in Wednesday’s victory over Mesa.
Pima will open the regional tournament Wednesday at 7 p.m. with a semifinal game against No. 4 Phoenix College (12-14, 9-8). The Aztecs went 3-0 against the Bears in the regular season.
The other semifinal game will pit Mesa against Scottsdale (18-8, 12-5).
“We’ve got to make sure we’re rested up because we’re a little banged up right now,” Holthaus said. “You’re playing somebody for the fourth time. They’re are no secrets. There’s no secret. No magic wand, so to speak. We’ve just got to trust in what we’ve done.”
.@PimaWBB defeated Mesa 74-60 to increase its winning streak to 12 games. The Aztecs (24-4, 16-2 ACCAC) will host the regional tournament next week. pic.twitter.com/FJjSDfnTRs
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) February 26, 2026
The Aztecs led for most of the game against Mesa and held a 62-54 lead with 5:08 left. They used a 12-2 run to pull away to a 74-56 lead with 1:23 remaining.
All-American sophomore post player Kiley Sours-Miller posted her 12th double-double of the season with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Melicia Nelson also had a double-double with 13 rebounds and 11 assists. She also had three steals and three blocks.
“We’re probably better at the post this year,” said Holthaus, whose team outrebounded Mesa 62-26. “Because we’re better at the post, if we take shots from the perimeter and knock them down, it makes us more dangerous.”
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