On a 5-game winning streak and leading 27-23 early in the second quarter of its Moorpark Tournament game against the host Raiders on Dec. 18, the Pasadena City College women's basketball team discovered how Moorpark has become the SoCal Region's most formidable opponent going back to the 2018-19 season.
The Lancers (7-4) ran into a buzzsaw as Moorpark, the 2019 state finalist and a program that went 59-3 combined in 2018-19 and 2019-20, outscored PCC, 43-9, by the 1:45 mark left in the third quarter. The Raiders (7-2), #7 in the current state Top 20 rankings, went on to hand unranked PCC a 94-54 defeat. The 40-point margin is the worst regular season loss in the 25-season tenure of PCC head coach Joe Peron. Only a 103-53 loss to Ventura in the 2002 Southern California Regional Playoffs exceeded Saturday's defeat.
Moorpark slowed down state-leading scorer Lupe Vazquez to 17 points (and nine rebounds) as reserve forward Naomi Turner led the Lancers with her season high of 18 points. Maiya Villanueva also was limited by Moorpark's defense, scoring just seven points with six assists and five rebounds. Moorpark had six players reach double figures in scoring, paced by 18 points from Kadyn Mew. The Raiders sizzled from 3-point land, making nearly half of their 27 attemps with 13 treys.
In the opening round of the Moorpark Tourney on Dec. 17, PCC avenged a 66-57 loss to Antelope Valley from early this season in a 68-48 rout over the Marauders. Vazquez tallied 31 points, making a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line, while adding 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Villanueva rained in seven 3-pointers as part of her 25 points. Center Tatiana Ayala added five points and nine rebounds.
An 11-0 run to end the first quarter gave PCC an 18-9 lead and the Lancers never looked back.
Vazquez leads the state in scoring average at 28.5 points per game and her 50 baskets beyond the 3-point arc is tied for first in that category. She is 12th in free throw percentage at 82.3 and fifth in overall baskets made (106).
PCC returns to the floor on Dec. 27 against Chabot at the San Jose City College Jaguar Classic. The Lancers next home game is Jan. 12, 2022 v. El Camino College as part of the South Coast Conference Crossover Challenge Tournament.