PCC Women’s Basketball Finds Its Offense In 99-45 Win Over Los Angeles Harbor College

After a series of defensive, low-scoring games, the Pasadena City College women’s basketball team finally was able to run the floor with a more up-tempo style Friday night. The Lancers snapped a 3-game losing streak by just missing the century mark in a 99-45 rout over Los Angeles Harbor in a South Coast Conference crossover game at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

PCC (10-8 record), ranked No. 11 in SoCal, had five players reach double figures in scoring with reserve guard Chy’Annea Hodges leading the way on 17 points (8-for-12 shooting from the field).

The Lancers jumped out to a 14-0 lead by the 5:23 mark of the first quarter and never looked back.

Freshman forward Ilianna Blanc added 13 points and 13 rebounds, including seven on the offensive boards. Also picking up a double-double was frosh center Kailyn Gideon, who scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

Sophomore point guard Judith Espinoza ran the offensive attack as she scored 16 points, dished out eight assists, had five rebounds and made five of PCC’s 19 steals. Freshman guard Ella Stepanian contributed 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals. Starting forward Jolene Robinson chipped in eight points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Off the bench, letterman guard Kyrstin Nakamura drained three 3-pointers for her nine points and made four assists. Guard Bridget Phu, a recent addition to the PCC roster out of Rosemead High, looked strong with five points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. All 11 Lancers scored at least one field goal as the team shot 48.9 percent from the floor (42 of 91). PCC dominated the glass, outrebounding Harbor, 62-34.

LA Harbor (1-12) was led by Tajah Davis with 14 points.

On Wednesday, PCC led state No. 5-ranked Long Beach City College, 41-40, late in the game but lost to the Vikings for the second time this season, 47-43. It was a season low in points for the Lancers, who were paced by Hodges with 10 points and nine rebounds.

“We played a lot better v. Long Beach after really playing poorly up at the San Jose Tournament,” said PCC head coach Joe Peron. “Tonight, we were able to get everyone playing time and it was fun to see the players get back to our type of basketball. We pushed the offense and we used our size to control the boards. We made some second and third efforts to get baskets.”

The Lancers next face El Camino College on the road in a 5 p.m. conference crossover contest on Wednesday, Jan. 13.