Lady Thunderbirds Battle for ACCAC DII Championship Against Pima Aztecs Tonight
The Mesa Thunderbirds women's basketball team look to capture its fifth ACCAC DII Championship under the reign of Head Coach Kori Stephenson as they head down to Tucson tonight to battle the Pima Aztecs at 7:30 p.m. for the ACCAC DII Championship.
For the #2 T-Birds, they have had quite the unpredictable season. They finished the season with a 15-15 (.500) record but they just couldn't keep healthy throughout the season. With key injuries to Tori Lloyd and Kendyll Kelly before the season and Taylor Reed and Ashley Burns in the season, Mesa endured and kept fighting.
Led by sophomore guard Briana Clah, who averaged 15 points and five rebounds throughout the season, with Rebecca Rudd and Janessa Aukward hitting big shots when they needed and all three post players played like gladiators all season long in the paint.
The Pima Aztecs come in as the #1 seed with a 23-8 overall record. Mesa lost both games to the Aztecs this season, the first coming down in Tucson in December, 76-69. Briana Clah finished with 24 points and seven rebounds but the Aztecs made 25-29 from the free throw line to defeat the T-Birds.
A few weeks back, the Aztecs defeated Mesa at Theo Heap Gym by six, 71-65. A rough third quarter did the T-Birds in as Pima outscored Mesa 17-8, which was the key factor in victory for Pima.
This is the third matchup in four years that Mesa has played Pima in the ACCAC DII Championship. Mesa won the first two championship games, the second one leading Mesa to winning the 2014 NJCAA DII National Championship.
Follow along on the Live Radio Broadcast on T-Bird Sports Live, link below.