Women's Cagers Hits Century Mark At President's Roundball Classic

For the 18th time in 22 seasons under head coach Joe Peron, the Pasadena City College women's basketball team reached the 100-point mark in a game Thursday. The Lancers opened their 2nd President's Roundball Classic with a resounding 103-43 victory over Imperial Valley College at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

Ironically, PCC (2-1) last scored a 100-plus points in last season's home opener at the inaugural PRC against College of the Desert (108 points). Pasadena will now face former assistant and recruiting coach La'Nette Dillard and her Los Angeles Southwest College Cougars in the championship semifinals Friday at 4 p.m. College of the Sequoias and Irvine Valley play in the other championship semi at 2 p.m. The second day schedule begins at 10 a.m. with a consolation semi between Citrus and Desert. At 12 noon, Pierce will face Imperial Valley in the other conso semi.

Against Imperial Valley (0-1), sophomore center Alisa Shinn scored 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds with four assists and four steals while frosh guard Celine Bolton-Ford added 27 points and 14 rebounds (11 offensive) to go with six assists and four steals. Coming off the bench, frosh guard Jade Lin burned the nets with six 3-point bombs as part of her 21 points. Starting point guard Samaiyah Abdullah had a double-double on 12 points and 10 assists. Freshman guard Elise Ortega contributed seven points, five assists and four steals. First-year forward Tatiana Shoals chipped in eight points and three steals. 

Due to injuries and some eligibility clearance delays, the Lancers had just seven available players and were down to six when freshman center Mercy Odima was accidentally hit in the face in the first quarter and did not return. PCC led just 22-11 after one quarter, upped it to 48-28 by halftime. In the second half, the short-handed Lancers ran a transitional fast break and outscored Imperial Valley, 55-15, in the final 20 minutes. 

The Lancers made 11 shots from beyond the 3-point circle (44 percent accuracy) and dominated the offensive boards, 24-7. 

In other first round tourney games, Irvine Valley downed Citrus, 63-55, Sequoias romped over Desert, 79-20, and LA Southwest squeaked by Pierce, 63-61.