Sophomores Marlena Arroyo-Plata and Rashad Smith will help lead the Aztecs basketball teams as they each ranked in the top 4 of the NJCAA Division II national polls. The women's team is ranked No. 3 and the men's team is No. 4 in their respected polls. Photos by Stephanie Van Latum
Sophomores Marlena Arroyo-Plata and Rashad Smith will help lead the Aztecs basketball teams as they each ranked in the top 4 of the NJCAA Division II national polls. The women's team is ranked No. 3 and the men's team is No. 4 in their respected polls. Photos by Stephanie Van Latum
Posted: Oct 21, 2019

Aztecs basketball teams rank near top of NJCAA Division II preseason polls

The Pima Community College women's and men's basketball teams will begin the 2019-20 seasons ranked in the top 4 of the NJCAA Division II preseason national polls.

  • The Aztecs women's team will begin at No. 3 to start the season. The Aztecs are coming off a fifth place finish at last year's NJCAA Division II National Tournament. They went 24-12 overall.
  • They bring back four sophomores: guards Alyssa Perez (Marana HS) and Haile Gleason as well as forwards Hallie Lawson (Campo Verde HS) and Marlena Arroyo-Plata (Campo Verde HS).
  • The Aztecs play their first game against Park University JV on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
  • The Aztecs men's basketball team will begin their season ranked No. 4 in the polls. The Aztecs took seventh place at the NJCAA Division II Tournament and closed out the season with a 29-7 overall record. They're coming off their third straight NJCAA Region I, Division II title.
  • The Aztecs have five sophomores on the team: guards Cole Gerken (Ironwood Ridge HS), Jordan Robinson (Tucson HS), Rashad Smith (Hamilton HS) and Nick Rosquist (The Gregory School) as well as red-shirt sophomore forward Kaylon Tippins (Cholla HS).
  • The Aztecs play their first game against Dream City Christian Prep on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

Check out the Women's Basketball NJCAA Division II national poll

Check out the Men's Basketball NJCAA Division II national poll