Lady Huskies rally to defeat Pasadena 51-47
PASADENA, CA — The No. 6 East Los Angeles College women’s basketball team rallied to defeat South Coast Conference North Division rival Pasadena City College 51-47.
The South Region’s No. 7-ranked Huskies improved to 17-6 overall and 1-1 in SCC North play. Pasadena (12-11, 1-2) dropped to fourth place.
The Lancers led 11-8 after one period and increased their lead in the second quarter to seven points.
ELAC rallied and caught up with the Lancers at 20-all and took a 22-20 lead into the locker room at the half.
ELAC freshman forward Tiffani Martinez connected on three 3-point shots in the first half.
Both teams usually play faster run-and-gun basketball. ELAC averages 70.9 points-per-game while Pasadena averages 64.4 points. This may have contributed to unfamiliar territory for both teams working the clock before taking shots.
ELAC shot 24.2 percent (16-of-66) and was 7-of-32 on connected baskets in the first half. Pasadena shot 26.8 percent (19-of-71 shots) and connected on 8-of-32 shots in the first half.
While both teams shot horribly, ELAC out rebounded Pasadena in the final two periods 40-20, a huge difference in the game according to ELAC Head Coach Bruce Turner.
“We were stronger on getting rebounds, which was key in the win,” said Turner. “Pasadena is a strong team and plays smart ball.”
Every Husky had rebounds including 29 from the offensive boards. “We know we can win games with our defense,” said ELAC freshman center Anastasia Tsybaeva (Burbank HS).
Pasadena had 10 steals to ELAC’s two. ELAC, however, more almost doubled turnovers and committed 24 to Pasadena’s 13.
ELAC also was 14-of-25 from the line. Pasadena was 6-of-15 from the charity stripe.
Martinez led the Huskies in scoring with 12 points. Sophomore forward Jessica Sanchez (Roosevelt HS) had 15 rebounds and freshman forward Gabrielle Lopez (Montebello HS) hauled in a season-high 10 rebounds for ELAC.
Pasadena sophomore point guard Judith Espinoza and freshman forward Iliana Blanc led the Lancers in scoring with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
The ELAC defense did a great job of covering freshman guard Ella Stepanian, Pasadena’s No. 2 scorer, and held her to just five points.
In other action of SCC North teams, L.A. Trade Tech College (11-9, 2-0) won 90-35 vs. El Camino-Compton Center and No. 2 Mt. San Antonio College (23-1, 2-0) won a 94-43 non-conference game vs. L.A. Harbor College (2-16).
ELAC travels to Compton to face the Lady Tartars (2-17, 0-3) on Friday at 5 p.m.
story submitted by Tadzio Garcia