Just seven games into the 2021-2022 season, freshman guard Lupe Vazquez is already becoming a folk hero as a member of the Pasadena City College women's basketball team. On Thursday, Vazquez achieved the second-highest points ever in a Lancers game with 44 points in a 73-52 win over MiraCosta in the opening round of the Santa Ana College Tournament.
Leading the state in scoring at 29.9 points a game, Vazquez opened the contest by pouring in 19 points in the first quarter as PCC (4-3 overall) took a 27-17 lead. Limited to 11 points in the middle quarters, the 5-foot-8 shooter, from Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary in Montebello, went after the Lancers single-game scoring record of 48 points held by Cara Vergo against Compton all the way back in the 1989-90 season.
She netted her seventh 3-pointer with 3:46 left to get to 43 points. She made 1-of-2 free throws with 2:28 left, but with the game out of doubt, she never took another field goal attempt. Vazquez converted 15 of 28 shots from the field and was 7-for-9 from the free throw line. She added 13 rebounds and three assists.
Only four of the seven Lancers who played scored as point guard Maiya Villanueva continued her fine season with 16 points (four 3-pointers), sophomore guard Kaniya Hill eight points, and forward Emily Trinh posted five points and eight boards. Center Tatiana Ayala was held off the scoresheet but added nine rebounds and blocked four shots.
Vazquez has already recorded three of the seven highest scoring games ever by a Lancer, twice scoring 38 points before the explosion v. MiraCosta, a team that was ranked No. 15 in the basketball coaches Pre-Season Regional Poll. PCC was ranked #8 in SoCal.
At the College of the Sequoias Tournament Nov. 19-20, Vazquez settled for 22 points (9-for-10 at the line) and Hill added 15 points in an 81-64 loss to the host Giants. The next day v. Porterville, Vazquez showed her versatility as a player, scoring 16 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out five assists in a 76-47 victory. Villanueva rained down seven treys as part of her 24 points and contributed eight assists while Hill reached a career-high with 20 points to go with seven rebounds, seven steals and five assists.
On Nov. 12 in the second and final game of the Pasadena Classic, the "V Squad" combined for 56 points with Vazquez tallying 31 and Villanueva draining 25 in a 66-50 victory over San Diego City. Ayala added 14 rebounds.
"Lupe is a scoring machine!" said PCC head coach Joe Peron. "She's being double-teamed and face guarded but still manages to have a good game. For all the great shooters and scorers we've had here, she is just a special talent who is truly entertaining to watch."
On Friday, Dec. 3, PCC continues the Santa Ana Tournament in facing San Diego Mesa in a 4 p.m. tip-off. On Saturday, they finish the round-robin tourney with a 2 p.m. contest v. San Diego City. The Lancers end up playing against three schools from the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference and do not face host SAC.