Heroic efforts by Paris Ngeam and Monica Menzies on Wednesday night gave a sense of encouragement for the next campaign after the end of a trying seaspn of Pasadena City College women's basketball in 2024-25.
Menzies scored all 21 of her points in the second half while Ngeam battled through foot/leg cramps to post 13 points, 11 rebounds and four steals, but a late rally came up short. Rio Hondo prevailed, 63-52, in the South Coast Conference North Division and regular season finale for the Lancers.
PCC closed out the year at 5-22 overall and went winless in the division at 0-8.
Menzies made an impressive nine steals and added five rebounds. She made three 3-pointers. Ngeam posted her first double-digit scoring game of the season.
Other freshmen standing out in the last game were Ava Chang (nine points and six assists), Abigail Aguilar contributing four points, seven boards and three steals, Kimberly Dominguez pulling down 10 rebounds, Jocelyn Sanchez tallying three points and grabbing eight rebounds, and Nareh Kiledjian with hard-working play (one point and an assist).
Rio Hondo (12-15, 3-4) was paced by Jaden Hill-Massarotti, who scored 22 points, had eight rebounds, and made seven steals.
PCC led early at 8-2, but Rio Hondo jumped out to a commanding 31-13 halftime lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Lancers chipped away at the Roadrunners advantage and closed it to 57-51 on a 3-point bomb by Chang with 2:09 left. But free throws sealed the team's 10th straight defeat.
PCC played without a top frosh guard Lyndsey Valverde and Sheridan Orange, who missed the team's final seven games, due to injuries. Orange was honored in a Sophomore Night ceremony prior to the contest.
Valverde averaged 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds this season while Menzies was at 16 points, 3.4 steals and 2.5 assists averages.
PCC head coach Joe Peron hopes to reach a milestone 600th coaching victory next season as he is seven victories shy of the mark. He is already the winningest coach in PCC Athletics history in all sports.
