Sequoias Overtakes Women's Cagers For President's Roundball Classic Title

A 4-game winning streak to open the 2016-17 season came to an end for the Pasadena City College women's basketball team Saturday afternoon in a 63-52 loss to College of the Sequoias. The Giants captured PCC's President's Roundball Classic title at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

The Lancers (4-1) never led the championship final as COS (6-0) took an 18-10 first-quarter lead and built it to 15 by halftime, 43-28. PCC got as close as eight points, 51-43, with two minutes left in the third quarter, but Sequoias built it back to 14 and was not threatened in the final quarter.

All-Tournament team selection Jelissa Puckett did what she could for the Lancers as she scored a game-high 24 points and added four assists as the only PCC player to reach double digits on the scoreboard. Puckett made 9-for-15 from the field. Raquel Jones scored nine points off the bench while All-Tourney choick Jolene Robinson added seven points, five rebounds, and three steals. 

For COS, center Dojahnee Senegal was the President's Roundball Classic MVP, scoring six points and grabbing 11 rebounds in the final and was a defensive presence throughout her team's three games. The hero of the title game though was All-Tourney selection and reserve guard Greissen Leslie who drilled six 3-point bombs for a team-high 18 points. 

In the third place game, Long Beach City College routed LA Southwest, 88-35, behind the play of All-Tourney pick Miranda Martinez. For LASW, Marion Mims made the All-Tourney team. In the consolation title game, Aja Daniels made the All-PRC team and helping West Los Angeles defeat College of the Desert, 65-51. 

On Friday in the championship semifinals, the Lancers romped over LASW, 81-44. In the triumph, Puckett scored 23 points (7-for-8 from the free throw line) and added six rebounds and four assists. Forward Ilianna Blanc had 14 points (6-for-6 at stripe) and 12 rebounds while reserve center Alisa Shinn also performed 14 points and 12 boards. Robinson reached 12 points and contributed eight rebounds. 

[Photo--Jolene Robinson goes up for an attempt in the title game of the President's Roundball Classic v. Sequoias on Saturday, image by Richard Quinton.]