WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO NO. 1 PIMA IN REGION FINALS
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mesa Community College (21-8) | 18 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 73 |
|
Pima Community College (32-0) | 18 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 80 |
Pima Community College
| Game Statistics | Mesa Community College | Pima Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (29-64) | (33-66) |
| Field Goal % | 45.3% | 50.0% |
| Rebounds | 21 | 39 |
| Assists | 10 | 22 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 11 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 10 | 19 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 11 | 16 |
| Pts in the Paint | 22 | 40 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 20 | 10 |
No. 2 seed Mesa Community College Women's Basketball saw its postseason run come to a close Friday night as No. 1 seed Pima Community College closed the game on a late run to secure an 80–73 victory in the NJCAA Region I Division II Women's Basketball Championship.
Mesa finished the season with a 21-8 (14-4) record while appearing in the Region I Division II Finals for the third consecutive season, continuing the program's sustained success in the Region I postseason.
The championship matchup lived up to the rivalry between the two programs. The teams combined for six ties and five lead changes throughout the contest, with neither side leading by double digits.
Pima jumped out to an early 10-4 lead, but the Thunderbirds responded with a strong close to the opening quarter. Mesa outscored the Aztecs 14-8 over the final 6:30 of the period, capped by a Lakeisha Robinson buzzer-beater that tied the game at 18–18 heading into the second quarter.
Mesa carried the momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first five points of the period. The T-Birds eventually built their largest lead of the night at 34-28 as Meisha Caserio, Robinson and Amya Bekele helped spark the offense. Pima answered late in the half, however, taking a 41-39 lead into the break.
The Aztecs held a slim advantage for much of the third quarter. Pima briefly stretched the lead to eight points midway through the period, but Mesa continued to battle behind timely baskets from Robinson, Caserio and Carmella Gallardo to stay within striking distance entering the fourth quarter.
Mesa made its move midway through the final period after trailing early in the fourth. The Thunderbirds used a 12-4 run over four and a half minutes to reclaim the lead. Caserio converted two free throws with 4:11 remaining to give Mesa a 73–70 advantage and put the T-Birds in position for a late championship push.
Pima responded with the decisive stretch of the game.
The Aztecs closed the contest on a 10-0 run over the final four minutes while holding Mesa scoreless down the stretch to secure the Region I Division II title.
The championship meeting marked the 14th time in the last 18 seasons that Mesa and Pima have faced off in the Region I Division II Finals, continuing one of the ACCAC's most competitive postseason rivalries.
The Thunderbirds will now wait to see if they receive an at-large bid to the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championships, which will be announced in the NJCAA Selection Show on Tuesday March 10 at 2 p.m. MST following the conclusion of district tournaments across the country.