Aztecs women's basketball dominate second quarter, rout Gillette College; Holthaus wins 200th game

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (3-1) played its first game of the 2016-17 season at the West Campus on Thursday as part of the Tohono O'odham Community College Native American Classic.

The No. 1 ranked (Division II) Aztecs outscored Division I's Gillette College (WY) 21-4 in the second quarter and went on to win 80-52.

The Aztecs and the Proghorns were tied at 12-12 after the first quarter and the Aztecs took over going on a 19-0 run to take a 31-12 lead. Gillette College scored their first points of the quarter with 47 seconds left. Pima led 33-16 at halftime.

The Aztecs outscored the Proghorns 47-36 in the second half.

Sophomore Denesia Smith (Cienega HS) scored a team-high 15 points to go along with three steals, two assists and two rebounds. Sophomore Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) finished with 10 points and three assists while sophomore Bree Cates had 11 points.

The Aztecs finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds. Sophomore Moana Hala'ufia (Marana HS) had six offensive boards.

The Aztecs got a boost from their bench as freshman Izzy Spruit (Mesquite HS) and Alliyah Bryant (Mesquite HS) each drained three 3-pointers and had nine points. Spruit also did work on defense as she had five steals.

Holthaus told his players after the game that 200 wins is making him reflect back on previous years with the program.

"I've been privileged to coach people and alongside those I hold dear," Holthaus said. "I thought of Coach (Bruce) Fleck and to reflect back, I'm very fortunate to do what I do."

The Aztecs will play Elite 1 Academy in the second day of the Tohono O'odham Community College Native American Classic. The game starts at 4:00 p.m.

GC     12     4     16     20     52
PCC   12    21    21     26     80

Todd Holthaus and the women's basketball team celebrating 200th win/Photo by Raymond Suarez