Pima Edges Past Scottsdale in Region Semifinal

Scottsdale women's basketball put up quite a fight tonight but were edged in the final minutes in a 66-59 loss to Pima in the NJCAA Region I Semifinal in Tucson.

The #2 seed Aztecs (25-5) led 20-13 after the first quarter and led by as many as 10 points. The second quarter was fast paced and produced a lot of points. #3 seed SCC (17-10) cut the lead early to 23-20, but an 8-0 Pima run pushed the lead back to 11. The Artichokes battled back to cut it to four, before entering the break down 39-31. Scottsdale controlled the third quarter, tying the game up at 49-49 with under a minute to go. A Pima putback jumper at the buzzer gave them a 51-49 lead after three. Trailing by six in the fourth, Saige Miller scored a basket, made a block on the next defensive possession, then scored again to cut the lead to 61-59 with two minutes to go. It ended up being the final points of the night for SCC.

Andrea Becerra was the high scorer for Scottsdale with 13 points. Vanessa Sepulveda and Katy Frost each had 10.

Pima will advance to the NJCAA Region I Final against Mesa on Saturday, March 8 at MCC. 

SCC was highly represented on the postseason honor rolls. Sepulveda was named to the All-ACCAC DII and All-Region DII First Team. Frost was named to the Second Team for both.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Henderson