Posted: Apr 24, 2021
Aztecs Women's Basketball Takes 8th Place at NJCAA Division II National Tournament
UPDATE: Sophomore Fama Thiam was named to the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament Team. In the four games played, she averaged 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.75 steals and 29 minutes.
The Pima Community College women's basketball team's season came to a close on Saturday on the final day of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.
- The No. 9 seeded Aztecs fell to No. 7 Arkansas State University Mid-South 65-47 in the Seventh Place Consolation Bracket Final. The Aztecs took eighth place and finished the 2020-21 season with a 5-5 overall record.
- The Aztecs were held without a field goal in the first quarter and trailed the Greyhounds 16-3. Sophomore Tayla Nez (Monument Valley HS) scored Pima's first field goal with 9:03 left in the second quarter. The Aztecs cut the Greyhounds lead down to 24-17 with 3:45 left but ASU Mid-South went on a 10-2 run to close out the half and take a 34-19 advantage at the break.
- The Greyhounds scored the first six points in the third quarter to make it 40-19. Sophomore Sierra Mich'l was effective in getting to the foul line as she went 5 for 6 in the quarter but the Aztecs struggled to close the gap as they trailed by as much as 22 points (63-41) late in the fourth quarter.
- Mich'l finished the game with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Fellow sophomore Fama Thiam (Highland HS) also finished in double figures with 10 points. She also had eight rebounds and three steals.
- Sophomore Nikya Orange (Tanque Verde HS) had seven points and six rebounds while sophomore Aaliyah Ortiz (Palo Verde HS) contributed with six rebounds and five assists.
- The Pima bench scored 19 points. Nez and sophomore Melissa Simmons each had six points. Sophomore Keara Felix grabbed eight rebounds.
- Coach's Quote: "Many people may look at 8th place as a disappointment, but not me. This team overcame zoom calls, covid tests, postponement after postponement, cancellations and every other setback and yet, they persevered," Pima women's basketball coach Todd Holthaus said. "The goal; make it to Nationals and play on the last day. Mission accomplished."
Aztecs women's basketball coach Todd Holthaus sits at 297 career wins at Pima.
