Aztecs Women's Basketball Claim Third Place at NJCAA Nationals, Upset No. 1 Monroe CC

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (28-8) would not be denied on Saturday in the third place game of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

The Aztecs led most of the game and beat No. 1 seed Monroe Community College (N.Y.) (31-2) 74-73. The defense forced a tough shot and sophomore Shalise Fernander (Flowing Wells HS) tipped the ball to avoid giving up an offensive rebound as time expired.

The Aztecs gave up a double digit lead as the Tribunes took a 73-72 lead with 26.7 seconds left (their first and only lead of the game). Freshman Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) was fouled as the ball was inbounded and hit two free throws to put the Aztecs ahead for good.

Pima led 65-60 with 4:16 left but Monroe hit a three-pointer and a shot to tie it at 65-65 with 3:13 left. Sophomore Gabby Banales (Cienega HS) drained a three-pointer from the left side that was assisted by Stallworth to put the Aztecs back up.

The Aztecs started quick and dominated for much of the first half. Pima took an early 21-5 lead as sophomore Taylor Blue (Peoria HS) collected a couple of offensive rebounds and turned them into points. Banales hit a couple of three-pointers and Fernander (Flowing Wells HS) hit a couple of jumpers. Pima's biggest lead in the first half was 16 points at 27-11 with 7:30 left in the second quarter. The Tribunes went on a 7-0 run to close out the second quarter as Pima led 35-26.

Banales scored 12 of her 17 points in the first half as she went 5 for 9 from three-point range.

"I've always been comfortable in my shot, everyone was giving me the ball when I was open and I was feeling it," Banales said. "From the start we told them (the freshmen) that hard work has always been what being a Pima Aztecs is all about."

Banales finished 14 for 25 (.560) from three-point range for the tournament.

Stallworth struggled from the field, going 0 for 5 with no points in the first half but made some critical free throws in the second half to keep the Aztecs ahead. She finished with eight points on 1 for 9 shooting but had five assists.

"I know I have an important role on this team and when I'm not on, I have to find ways to be a part of it," Stallworth said. "Now that we've been here (freshmen), we know what it's like and we want to come back."

Blue led the way with 22 points on 10 for 16 shooting. She also had nine rebounds; four offensive boards. Fernander had 17 points and seven rebounds to go along with two steals and a block.

"I am so proud, it was one of those situations, you don't know the effort you'll get. We lost a tough one last night and they responded like champions, just like they have all year," coach Todd Holthaus said. "I wanted to win so bad for the sophomores. This is one of the best groups of sophomores we've ever had. The freshman are talented and they experienced what they can be capable of. It's been a joy to coach this team."

The Aztecs finished with a 28-8 record. This is the fourth time that a team coach by Holthaus has won 28 games in a season.

After the championship game, Stallworth and Blue were named to the All-Tournament team.

Pima Women's Basketball - Third Place at NJCAA Division II National Tournament (Photo by Raymond Suarez