Smith scores 26 points but Aztecs women's basketball fall in final seconds vs. Cochise College

The Pima Community College women's basketball team (19-6, 13-5 in ACCAC) dropped a heartbreaker in the final seconds of its game against Cochise College (22-3, 15-3) on Wednesday at the West Campus.

Cochise's Deeha Battle scored under the basket with two seconds left as the No. 5 ranked Aztecs (Division II) fell to the No. 24 Apaches (Division I) 81-80.

The Aztecs trailed 67-61 with 1:12 left in regulation but sophomore Bree Cates scored two points and fellow sophomore Sydni Stallworth (Palo Verde HS) dropped two more baskets on back-to-back possessions to tie the game at 67-67. Cochise missed a three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Cates hit a three-pointer to give Pima a 70-69 lead and later hit a pair of free throws to put them up again at 76-75 with 2:05 left. The Apaches came back to take a 79-76 lead but the Aztecs took the lead one more time at 80-79 when sophomore Erin Peterson (Catalina Foothills HS) hit a pair of free throws with 8.2 second left.

Sophomore Denesia Smith (Cienega HS) scored 18 of her 26 points in the first half. She went 12 for 21 from the field with six rebounds and three assists.

Stallworth, who was held scoreless in the first half and had just two points after the third quarter, finished with 15 points on 6 for 10 shooting. She had seven points in the fourth quarter and six in the overtime. Cates scored 12 points as she struggled from the field but was 7 for 8 from the free throw line.

The Aztecs were swept in the regular season head-to-head meetings with the Apaches. Pima lost 57-44 last month in Douglas.

The Aztecs will play at Phoenix College on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

COC     9     20     25     13     14     81
PCC     12    20     13     22     13     80