Aztecs women's basketball fall on last second shot vs. Mesa CC

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (13-4, 7-3 in ACCAC) dropped a heartbreaker on Wednesday against rival Mesa Community College (11-5, 7-3).

The No. 2 ranked Aztecs and the Thunderbirds wrote another chapter in their storied history but Pima fell 84-81 in the end.

Mesa's Allies Fuller hit a last second three-pointer from the top of the key to win it.

The Aztecs led 74-70 coming out of a timeout with 4:04 left but the Thunderbirds countered with an 8-0 run holding the Aztecs scoreless for three minutes. Sophomore Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) made a layup and hit a three-pointer to close the gap to 80-79 with 18.4 seconds left.

The Thunderbirds went 1 for 2 from the foul line to go up 81-79. Sophomore Bree Cates drew a foul from behind the three-point line. She missed the first but converted on the next two free throws to tie at 81-81 with 4.6 seconds left.

The Aztecs fell behind 35-28 but went on a 10-2 run to take a 38-37 lead. The score was tied 40-40 at halftime with five ties and four lead changes.

Stallworth finished the game with a team-high 22 points and five assists. Cates had 17 points and six rebounds while fellow sophomore Erin Peterson (Catalina Foothills HS) had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. She had eight offensive rebounds and was 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Freshman Christine Ortega (Flowing Wells HS) had eight points off the bench.

The Aztecs will face another test on Saturday when they play at Arizona Western College in Yuma. The game will start at 5:30 p.m.

MCC     20     20     17     27     84
PCC      23     17     22     19     81