Blue and Fernander Lead the Way as Women's Basketball Beats Glendale

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (19-4, 13-2 in ACCAC) put together one final rally in the fourth quarter to seal its close-knitted win on Saturday against Glendale Community College (10-10, 4-10).

The No. 9 ranked Aztecs defeated the Gauchos 68-59 to remain undefeated at 11-0 at the West Campus gym and winners of 13 of their last 14 games.

The Aztecs forced four Glendale turnovers in the final 2:30 of the game. Up 58-57 with under three minutes to go, sophomore Shalise Fernander (Flowing Wells HS) hit a pair of free throws. Glendale turned the ball over on their next two possessions and sophomore Taylor Blue (Peoria HS) hit a jumper to make it 62-57. The Aztecs forced another Glendale turnover and freshman Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) converted on a field goal attempt to make it 64-57.

Coming out of a timeout and up 64-59 with 1:17 left, the Aztecs broke a Glendale press with Fernander scoring under the basket. Pima forced another turnover with 49.5 seconds left to help seal it.

Blue and Fernander each finished with double-doubles. Blue had a team-high 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Fernander scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds (six offensive boards). She also had three blocks and two assists. Stallworth was scoreless in the first half as she went 0 for 6 from the field but finished with 12 points on 5 for 7 shooting in the second half.

The Aztecs swept the regular season head-to-head meetings with the Gauchos. Pima won 91-64 last month in Glendale.

The Aztecs will be back at the West Campus on Wednesday when they host a tough game against Eastern Arizona College at 5:30 p.m. The Aztecs are tied for first place with Eastern Arizona and Central Arizona College in the ACCAC standings at 13-2.