Defense Turning Season Around For Women's Basketball

After six times allowing teams to score 70 or more points during a disappointing 8-game losing streak from November to early December, the Pasadena City College women's basketball team changed its ways. The team has concentrated on playing better defense and in turn the team has improved.

Playing for the first time in 17 days and first in the new year on Wednesday, the Lancers downed host El Camino, 61-39, for their second win in three games. The Lancers are 4-4 in the last eight contests, limiting opponents to an average of 44.8 points.

Leading on both sides of the floor v. the winless Warriors (0-17), Monica Menzies totaled 20 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and made eight of the team's 20 steals.

PCC (5-12 overall) also had double-digit scoring efforts from fellow starters in Ava Chang (13 points, six assists), Lyndsey Valverde (11 points, 12 rebounds), and Sheridan Orange (10 points, four assists, and four steals).

"Earlier in the season, we just didn't defend the basket, allowing for too many easy baskets and also not doing a good job on the perimeter," said PCC head coach Joe Peron. "Once we started to be more aggressive and limit the post area, then we put ourselves in a better position to win games. It's been a process as we have a virtually all-freshmen roster. Right now, it's all baby steps going forward."

Orange is the lone sophomore on the squad and she was a returner from two seasons ago.

At the San Jose City College Tournament, the Lancers won one of the three contests, defeating Lassen, 57-45,  on Dec. 28 as Valverde netted 19 points (seven free throws), Menzies contributed 18 points (seven free throws) with nine steals and seven assists, and Orange accomplished a double-double on 10 points and 12 boards. 

In a 52-45 loss v. Siskiyous to end the tourney on Dec. 29, Chang scored 13 points, making three 3-pointers, Valverde posted 10 points and 15 rebounds, and Abigail Aguilar added nine points, three assists and two steals off the Lancers bench. 

On Friday, Jan. 17, PCC has a tough task as it travels to face state #23 Long Beach City College in a 5 p.m. tip-off. The Vikings upset #2-ranked Mt. San Antonio, 68-66, last night.