Fernander's Double-Double Propels Women's Basketball to Region Finals

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (24-7) dominated from the get-go in its Region I, Division II semifinal game on Tuesday at the West Campus.

The No. 1 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 4 Scottsdale Community College (14-17) 78-50 to advance to the Region I, Division II championship game on Saturday.

The Aztecs started the game on a 15-0 run and held the Artichokes scoreless for the first seven minutes of the game. Pima led 21-5 at the end of the first quarter. The Aztecs outscored Scottsdale 22-12 for the second quarter to take a 43-17 advantage at the break.

The Aztecs opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run to make it 50-17. The Aztecs led by as much as 35 points late in the fourth quarter at 75-40.

Sophomore Shalise Fernander (Flowing Wells HS) led the way as she posted a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. She went 7-for-9 from the field and grabbed five offensive rebounds. Freshman Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) finished with 18 points, four steals and three assists.

The bench scored 21 points as sophomore Samirah Miller (Basha HS) and freshman Aubre Fortner each had eight points.

The Aztecs renew a rivalry on Saturday when they host No. 2 seed Mesa Community College on Saturday at the West Campus. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. Mesa beat No. 3 Phoenix College 57-42 in their semifinal match-up.

The Aztecs won both meetings against the Thunderbirds in the regular season. This will be the seventh time in eight years the Aztecs and the Thunderbirds will meet in the Region I, Division II championship game. Mesa has won the last three meetings in the finals.

Shalise Fernander/Photo by Ben Carbajal