Ikidi Grabs 25 Rebounds In Women's Cagers Win Over Cerritos

Tena Ikidi goes up for a shot during PCC's win over Cerritos Friday night (photo by Michael Watkins).
Tena Ikidi goes up for a shot during PCC's win over Cerritos Friday night (photo by Michael Watkins).

Making a return visit to Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Friday night was former All-State Lancer Dariel Johnson, the all-time leader in rebounds at Pasadena City College (2018-2020), who went on to play two seasons at NCAA Division I University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Fittingly, Johnson got to watch current Lancer Tena Ikidi join her as part of a short list of four PCC players to total 25 rebounds* in a game during the Lancers' 74-62, South Coast Conference crossover victory over Cerritos. 

Johnson was the last to reach that number in a 2020 game v. Rio Hondo. Remarkably, Ikidi played only 23 minutes, had no rebounds after one quarter and entered the fourth quarter with a modest 10 boards. But the Nigerian transfer center (from South Georgia Technical College) scored seven of her 13 points and was a post machine by pulling down 15 rebounds over the last 10 minutes. 

PCC (10-8 overall) and Cerritos (7-10) played it close for most of the first three quarters. The teams traded the lead eight times and there were eight ties as they were tied at halftime 41-41 and knotted again 46-46 with three minutes left in the third quarter. 

Ikidi made a layup and Bryannae Robinson hit a jumper and sank two free throws to give the Lancers a 54-48 lead after three periods. Ikidi made two putbacks and a short jumper while Naomi Turner drilled an 18-foot jumper as PCC extended the lead to 62-48 with seven minutes remaining. 

Robinson came off the bench to make 8-for-12 from the field, grab 10 rebounds and make three steals. Also in reserve, Turner tallied 10 points, four boards and three assists. 

Sophomore point guard Maiya Villanueva matched Robinson with 18 points, draining six 3-pointers (four in the first quarter) while adding five assists and four rebounds. The Lancers shot 50 percent from 3-point range (8-for-16). Villanueva is just three points from joining the program's 500-point club for a career. 

PCC completely dominated the post on both sides of the floor, outrebounding the Falcons, 55-29 (27 offensive boards for the Lancers). 

Cerritos was led by Bridgette McIntyre, who scored 17 points. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 11, the Lancers travel to play El Camino College in a 6 p.m. SCC crossover tilt. 

*-Cheryl Taulton still holds the PCC school record for rebounds in a game with 28 during a 1987 contest v. El Camino