The fun came back for at least one game for the state No. 17-ranked Pasadena City College women's basketball team Friday night. The Lancers snapped a 4-game losing streak, the longest since 1995-96, the year before Coach Joe Peron started directing the program by defeating host Chaffey, 70-26, in the South Coast Conference North Division finale.
PCC finished the regular season at 18-10 and closed a very rough trip through the state's most difficult conference at 3-7, tied for fourth place. State No. 3-ranked Los Angeles Trade Tech won their second straight SCC North title by defeating No. 6-rated East Los Angeles (second place) on Friday. Mt. San Antonio, the No. 12-ranked team, took third place while the Lancers were tied in the standings by surprising unranked Rio Hondo.
Against the last-place Panthers, PCC went back to its defensive ways of earlier in the season especially in the middle quarters. The Lancers led just 15-8 after one period, then outscored Chaffey, 42-9, in the second and third quarters. The 26 points allowed overall is PCC's best defensive effort in 12 years when they held East LA and Compton to 24 points each in a pair of February wins in 2007.
Dariel Johnson, just named CCCSIA State Athlete of the Month for January http://www.pcclancers.com/sports/wbkb/2018-19/releases/20190222im3qfn, scored 16 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Reserve guard Kailey Thai broke out of a shooting slump by sinking 3-for-4 on 3-pointers for her nine points while starting point guard Cosette Balmy added eight points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Starting guard Daniela Mendez contributed eight points (and seven boards) as did backup guard Elise Ortega. Starting forward Alexandra Arreola and reserve guard Jade Lin each scored six points. Reserve center Teana DuBose had four points and four rebounds and two blocks, backup guard Melissa Felix made three points and three steals, and reserve forward Tatianna Shoals added two points and three rebounds.
Zaira Velasquez didn't score, but also didn't take a shot and had three assists and two steals.
Jessica Alvarado led Chaffey (5-20, 0-10) with 13 points.
On Wednesday in PCC's home finale at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium, the Lancers held an 11-point lead late against Mt. SAC, but the Mounties roared back with a 15-0 run and went on to send PCC to the loss, 62-57. Balmy scored 19 points with five steals while Johnson totaled just 11 points with eight rebounds and six blocked shots. On Sophomore Night, Lin pumped in 10 points, including three treys.
PCC will await its postseason seed and it will be announced on our official Twitter site @PCCAthletics by Monday.