No. 6 Women's Basketball hosts No. 16 Pima in their second meeting of the season
Friday January 19, 2024 - 11:45 a.m. | Dylan DeVlieger
No. 6 MCC Women's Basketball hosts No. 16 Pima CC on Saturday for the second time this season.
MCC comes in rolling hot, holding a 12-4 record (7-3 ACCAC) the Lady T-Birds have won four straight including back-to-back wins over Scottsdale.
Over the last three games MCC has done a great job controlling the glass, grabbing a season high 45 total rebounds against South Mountain and in their first meeting with Scottsdale, they also had 40 rebounds in their second game against the Artichokes on Wednesday.
Ashiian Hunter has put together games of 12 or more points in three of her last four appearances including a team high 16 points and four made three-pointers against SCC on Wednesday.
Mackenzie Shivers had her best shooting game since Dec. 13 on Wednesday night as she went 5-11 from the floor and 4-5 from deep tallying 14 points in the win.
MCC had a good defensive showing, holding the Artichokes to 24.6% shooting from the floor, only allowing Scottsdale to connect on three shots from distance.
No. 16 Pima comes into play on Saturday with a 12-5 record (7-3 ACCAC). The Aztecs have won three of their last five contests. Pima has struggled from deep in their last five contests, connecting from deep at just a 22.6% rate, in their loss to Arizona Western College PCC went 0-8 from downtown.
This will be the second meeting between these top 20 ranked teams. In the first meeting MCC came away with the 73-72 victory in yet another instant classic between the two programs. MCC controlled the first half, but a 22-9 run in the third quarter by the Aztecs gave them a 57-50 advantage going into the fourth quarter.
After the two teams traded blows for the opening eight minutes, MCC found themselves down four with 1:34 left. After a pair of free throws from Shivers and a Jaida Brooks layup Mesa found themselves tied with the Aztecs. After Dominique Acosta went 1-2 from the free throw line, MCC found themselves with an opportunity to take the lead and secure a victory out of a timeout.
Head coach Kori Stephenson drew up a play that was run to perfection as Brooks found a cutting Kamiyah Hurd who hit the game winning lay up. Pima still had a chance to steal the game with a last second shot, but a Rylei Waugh attempt fell off the rim as time expired.
Jaida Brooks had a game high as she tied her season high in the contest with 26 points to go along with her five rebounds and five assists.
The game will take place at Theo Heap Gymnasium and will tip-off at 2:00 p.m.
Admission for the game is FREE with the donation of a non-perishable food item that will benefit the Mesa Market!
Can't make the game? MCC Athletics has you covered, tune into T-Birds Sports Live to catch all the action!
