Revamped Women's Basketball Squad Begins 2022-23 Season
COMPLETE PCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 2022-23 ROSTER
PCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Sporting a 13-player roster and a refreshing reboot after a tough 2021-22 season, the Pasadena City College women's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season on Friday.
Last year, the Lancers missed the postseason for just the second time and first in 21 years under legendary head coach Joe Peron. The nine victories by PCC was the lowest in any of his 25 seasons in charge of the program.
While the Lancers lost the non-conference opener at Antelope Valley College, 64-51, Pasadena's outlook is positive. In a non-traditional scheduled exhibition showcase played the last weekend of September, PCC finished 4-0, including a win over Palomar.
"Last season, we were coming back from COVID-19 and it affected our roster numbers and we were without any depth," Peron remarked about last season's woes. "We were determined in the offseason in our recruiting and I feel we have a competitive group that can get us back to the playoffs this season."
PCC returns four starters from last season, led by All-South Coast Conference North Division First Team point guard Maiya Villanueva, who appeared in 20 games and averaged 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists. A 5-3 product from Arizona, Villanueva was second on the team in total 3-point baskets with 63, including a season-best eight in the team's season finale v. El Camino. She had a high of 28 points scored in a win v. Imperial Valley.
Forward Naomi Turner, the only player to play in all 24 games last season, came on strong in conference play and earned All-SCC North Second Team honors. From Arcadia High, Turner averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 steals. She scored her career-high of 25 points in the team's finale.
The other lettermen our center Tatiana Ayala, who averaged 4 points, 10.5 rebounds and made 32 blocked shots, and forward Emily Trinh, who averaged 4.8 points and 6.6 boards a contest.
Among the freshmen class are shooting guard Zakai McAlister, who averaged 13.9 points a game as a senior at Garden Grove High, and two All-LA City First Team guards in Haylie Sagarra (Franklin High) and Keila Chavez (Eagle Rock).
Peron is excited about a couple of taller newcomers in talented 6-foot-3 freshman forward Tena Ikidi, a heralded player from Nigeria, and 6-1 forward Arianna Rayford, a latecomer to the sport but an athletic player with strong all-around skills from Paradise Valley High in Arizona.
Another talent is sophomore transfer guard Atira Davis, who averaged 8 points a game at Central Christian College of the Bible (Missouri) as a freshman.
PCC has forward depth in such players as 5-8 Bryannae Robinson (from Sierra Linda High in Arizona), 5-7 Sheridan Orange (Pasadena HS), and 5-11 center Italee Montana, a strong inside post player from Montebello High.
"We like to go up-tempo and we have some players who can get it up the floor quickly," Peron said. "The next two months will be about getting the players acclimated to meshing together while gaining experience along the way. We want to be ready for that South Coast Conference grind we go through each year due to the talented teams in our North Division."
In the opening defeat, Villanueva scored a team-high 14 points (four 3s and three assists) while Ikidi had 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in her collegiate debut. Trinh added six points and five boards and Robinson six points and four rebounds off the bench.
Important schedule dates include PCC's Sisterhood of Champions Tournament to be played Nov. 10-12 at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The SCC North Division schedule doesn't start until Jan. 18, 2023 when they travel to face LA Trade-Tech.
Peron is assisted once again by "right hand man" and assistant coach Gary Potts, who is in his 11th season on the coaching staff.
PCC travels to face Bakersfield tonight at 6 p.m.