PCC Women’s Cagers Romp Over No. 7-Ranked East LA

Perhaps gelling at the right time, the unranked Pasadena City College women’s basketball team showed host and SoCal Region No. 7-ranked East Los Angeles it meant business Friday night. The Lancers took a 22-15 first quarter lead, extended it to 13 by halftime, and ran away in the second half with a 77-53 rout over the Huskies.

PCC avenged a 51-47 home loss to ELAC on Jan. 27 and broke a 4-game losing streak against the Huskies dating back two years.

The Lancers improved to 16-12 and 4-3 in the South Coast Conference North Division, taking a temporary spot in second place. However, PCC will face first place and region No. 1 Mt. San Antonio in its regular season finale on Friday, Feb. 19. Meanwhile, ELAC (19-8, 3-3) has two games remaining against LA Trade Tech (also 3-3 in conference) and last place El Camino College-Compton Center, holding a second place destiny in its own hands.

What Pasadena did by winning is move up its probable seeding in the upcoming SoCal Regonal Playoffs as it will make the postseason for the 19th time in 20 seasons under head coach Joe Peron.

Against ELAC, the Lancers converted a season-high 30 free throws in 45 attempts. Sophomore guard Judith Espinoza scored a game-high 19 points (13-of-17 at the line) and added seven rebounds, six assists and three steals. Espinoza raised her PCC career point total to 844 and passed Dominique Scott (2009-11, 835) at the No. 8 position on the Lancers All-Time Scoring List.

Once again, inside presence was provided by redshirt forward Ilianna Blanc, who scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots. Blanc made 7 of 12 shots from the floor. Frosh guard Ella Stepanian stepped up her game and added 17 points. Sophomore transfer guard Emiko Powell contributed nine points while first-year center Kailyn Gideon provided nine points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

For ELAC, Tiffani Martinez matched Espinoza with 19 points, making six 3-point bombs. The Lancers though neutralized Martinez in the second half as she was held scoreless over the final 20 minutes.

In a SCC game played Feb. 10 at Compton, the Lancers extended their series win streak against the Tartars to 20 games with an 87-30 victory. Sophomore guard Kyrstin Nakamura netted six of the team’s 15 treys for her 18 points while Espinoza made 5-for-6 from long range for her 15 points. Blanc had a double-double on 12 points and 10 rebounds and Stepanian tallied 12 points. Freshman forward Patience Madayag scored nine points (4-for-5 from the field) and grabbed five rebounds as 10 different Lancers reached the scoreboard.