Cates leads charge as women's basketball beats Illinois Central College

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (5-1) avenged its NJCAA Division II tournament loss to Illinois Central College on Saturday in the last day of the Tohono O'odham Community College Native American Classic.

After a tight-knitted first half, the No. 1 ranked Aztecs outscored the No. 11Cougars 34-16 in the third quarter and went on to win 96-73. Pima lost to Illinois Central in the semifinals of the NJCAA Division II tournament 77-74 last March.

Sophomores Bree Cates and Erin Peterson (Catalina Foothills HS) sparked the Aztecs in the third quarter as they went on an 11-2 run in the first 3 minutes and 15 seconds to put Pima up 48-36 forcing the Cougars to call timeout. Later with the Aztecs ahead 60-50, Cates hit a three-pointer while sophomore Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) and Peterson had back-to-back three-point plays as part of an 11-0 run to make it 71-50 to close out the third quarter.

The Aztecs led by as much as 25 points late in the fourth quarter.

Cates finished with a game-high 26 points and also had five rebounds and three steals. Peterson scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half and grabbed four rebounds (three offensive). Stallworth also contributed with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Sophomore Moana Hala-ufia scored in double figures with 14 points while sophomore Denesia Smith (Cienega HS) had eight points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

"This win was for last year's graduates," head coach Todd Holthaus told the team afterwards.

The Aztecs begin ACCAC conference play on Tuesday against Tohono O'odham Community College at the West Campus gym. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

ICC     18     16     16     23     73
PCC    19     18     34     25     96