Freshman point guard Monica Menzies came in with some bells and whistles as a prize recruit for the pre-season state #22-ranked Pasadena City College women's basketball team. On Friday, her collegiate debut lived up to the billing as she dazzled with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists as she helped the Lancers win their 2024-25 season opener, 60-34, over Palo Verde at the round-robin, PCC Sisterhood of Champions Tournament.
Menzies was the league MVP as a senior in helping Whittier High to a Del Rio League championship to cap a four-year varsity prep career. She was spectacular as the only player on either team to reach double figures in scoring. She drilled five 3-point baskets, was 4-for-4 from the free throw line, made two steals and blocked a shot.
The 5-foot-5 talent had 18 points by halftime as PCC grabbed a 36-18 lead. The Lancers limited Palo Verde to just two points in the fourth period and never were threatened.
The Lancers sizzled from 3-point land, making 11 of 19 shots beyond the arc. First-year guard Ava Chang, from South Pasadena High, drilled three 3s for her nine points and added three steals while frosh guard Nareh Kiledjian (Monrovia HS) came
Kimberly Dominguez, a 5-10 frosh forward Lincoln High, pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds with four points and three steals while freshman forward Paris Ngeam (Gabrielino High) grabbed 11 boards and scored six points.
PCC has a defensive wizard off the bench in first-year guard Abigail Aguilar, who made seven steals, grabbed nine rebounds and scored four points.
Sheridan Orange, a returning redshirt sophomore who was All-South Coast Conference Second Team as a freshman, added three points and four rebounds.
Letterman guard Jessica Lopez, 5-11 freshman center Jocelyn Sanchez (Arcadia High), and forward Michelle Mirzakhanian (Glendale High) also so action in the opener.
Other Lancers expected to join the team soon are freshmen in guards Lyndsey Valverde (Chino Hills) and Emiree Vega (Granada Hills Charter) and 6-2 center Raiah Blackmon (Bellflower HS). Another key player hoping to return after last playing in 2017-18 is 6-1, redshirt sophomore Celine Bolton-Ford, who averaged 19.1 points a game before being injured that year after 11 games.
The Lancers close out the 4-team host tip-off tourney today (Saturday, Nov. 2) when they face Chaffey at 1 p.m. Fullerton defeated Chaffey in the other tourney contest, 71-63. Fatimah Sami scored 20 points and had 10 rebounds for the Panthers.