Aztecs Women's Basketball falls to Scottsdale CC in Region I Semifinals

The Pima Community College women's basketball team suffered a rare feat on Thursday in its NJCAA Region I, Division II Semifinal matchup against Scottsdale Community College (18-11).

• The No. 2 seeded Aztecs fell to the No. 3 Artichokes 49-43. It was the first time the Aztecs had lost in the semifinal round since the 2014-15 season. The 43 points scored in the game matched their lowest point total of the season.
• Down 35-29 with 8:47 left in the game, the Aztecs went on a 6-0 run with free throws from freshman Amelie Buffill-Gutierrez (Sabino HS), a jumper from freshman Rylei Waugh and a steal and basket from freshman Gabby Lopez (Bisbee HS) to tie the game at 35-35. The Artichokes scored the next five points to reclaim the lead.
• The Aztecs cut it to two points at 45-43 after Waugh's drive and score as Pima called timeout with 29 seconds left.
• The Artichokes missed a pair of free throws, but Makeylei Snyder grabbed the offensive rebound on the second miss and was fouled. She hit both of her foul shots to make it 47-43 with 11.8 seconds left. Scottsdale made two more free throws to seal it.
• The Aztecs shot 25 percent from the field in the first half and finished the game at 35 percent. They went 0 for 11 from three-point range.
• Waugh finished with a team-high 12 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
• Sophomore Dominique Acosta (Nogales HS) went 5 for 7 from the field and finished with 11 points. She added four rebounds and three blocks.
• Freshman Rori Hoffmeyer (Cibola HS) scored 10 points as she went 4 for 5 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds. Lopez had two points and eight rebounds.

The Aztecs sit at 23-8 overall and await the NJCAA Division II National Tournament selection show to see if they receive an at-large bid. The tournament is Mar. 18-23 at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center in Joplin, MO.

SCC   9   10   12   18   49
PCC   9   12    8    14   43