A combination going back to December of COVID-19 protocol issues, a near 3-week layoff in January, and ultimately inconsistent play sent the Pasadena City College women's basketball team into a funk. On Wednesday, the Lancers faced another team dealing with its own set of problems in Los Angeles Trade-Tech as PCC snapped a 6-game losing streak, defeating a 5-player Beavers squad, 75-67, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.
The Lancers improved to 8-9 overall and won for the first time in South Coast Conference North Division play at 1-3 thanks in part to state-leading scorer Lupe Vazquez pouring in 37 points. Vazquez, who drained nine 3-pointers including four in the first quarter, didn't have her best shooting night (11-for-35 overall, but 9-for-19 on 3s) as the team got support from reserve guard Kaniya Hill, forward Naomi Turner and center Tatiana Ayala.
Hill, the team's lone sophomore, scored nine points with eight rebounds and five assists, Turner had eight points, nine boards and four assists, while Ayala played well defensively with 13 rebounds, three blocks and six points.
Point guard Maiya Villanueva added nine points while Samia Dinniene chipped in four points and five rebounds. The Lancers shot well from the free throw line, making 16 of 22 attempts for 73 percent (Dinniene 4-for-4). Besides her scoring, Vazquez added eight rebounds and a team-high six assists. PCC totaled a season-high 60 rebounds.
Trade-Tech (9-13, 0-4) had its losing streak extended to six games but received courageous efforts by Kierra Haynes (30 points, 13 rebounds), Janae Turner (21 points, five 3s, five blocks), and Ja-Naiah Perkins Jackson, who somehow fought through the entire 40 minutes despite a heavily taped leg and ankle that limited her usual high-scoring talents to three points.
Pasadena went 47 days between its last victory against Antelope Valley (December 17) and the win over Trade-Tech. The program's 6-game losing streak tied for Coach Joe Peron's worst in his 25 seasons in charge of the Lancers (lost six at end of the 2000-2001 season).
"We knew we were better than how we've played since coming back from that winter break," Peron said. "I think it was good from a morale standpoint to get a win finally and in conference. We have an uphill climb but we have to strive to be better. Our top players didn't play at their best tonight."
PCC hosts state #4 and SCC North first-place Mt. San Antonio on Friday, Feb. 4 in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the HP-Gym. All home games are now streamed live at: Live Stream link