Third Place for PCC Women’s Cagers at COD Tournament

For the fourth consecutive tournament, the state’s 10th-ranked Pasadena City College women’s basketball team didn’t leave with the first-place trophy. However, the Lancers now have two third places and two second places to their credit after a third place finish at the College of the Desert Winter Classic December 18-20.

PCC opened things with two-sport Lancers athlete Chy’annea Hodges picking up a double-double (15 points and 12 rebounds) in a 68-54 triumph over Moorpark on Thursday. Point guard Judith Espinoza just missed a double as she scored a team-high 22 points and added nine rebounds and six assists. Forward Regerina Baker added 16 points and nine rebounds. Forward Tiyana Watkins grabbed 11 rebounds and had two points.

The Lancers (8-4 record) were tied with Moorpark, 30-30, early in the second half before guard Kyrstin Nakamura bombed in a consecutive 3-point shots. That sparked a 15-2 PCC run as Espinoza scored three baskets and the Lancers put the game away.

In the championship semifinals, PCC’s 12-game series win streak against Riverside City College came to an end as the Tigers defeated the Lancers, 65-55. Espinoza contributed 13 points and five assists and Baker added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Nakamura had nine points (three 3-point baskets). Riverside had not beaten PCC since 1996, the first season behind the bench for Lancers head coach Joe Peron.

In the third place final, PCC’s first-ever meeting with Mission College (Santa Clara) resulted in a 94-81 Lancers victory. Espinoza, who made the All-COD Tournament team (third time selected this season), poured in 19 points, dished out eight assists, had five rebounds and three steals.

The Lancers trailed 32-24 in the first half and rallied to tie it 45-45 by halftime. Early in the second half, Baker scored five straight points during a 12-0 PCC spurt that made it 70-57.

Hodges scored her season high of 19 points while Chanelle Fisher tallied 11 points and five rebounds.

Off the bench, Baker was 7-for-10 from the floor as part of her 18 points (plus seven rebounds). Another reserve was Emily Thach, who scored eight points. Mission was paced by Celina Pagan with 28 points, including five treys.

The Lancers will finish out tourney play and the year of 2014 as they travel to the San Jose City College Lady Jaguar Invitational December 27-29. PCC opens with a 5 p.m. game this Saturday against San Joaquin Delta.