Valverde Shines In Women's Cagers Home Defeat

With a nearly all-freshmen team going through growing pains this season, the Pasadena City College women's basketball team has a standout in Lyndsey Valverde.

The 5-foot-8 frosh shooting guard from Chino Hills High has impressed with an ability to go to the post and shoot from different spots. In a 74-60 loss to visiting Cerritos on Wednesday, Valverde scored her season high of 28 points, matched her 2024-25 best with 15 rebounds, and led all players with five steals.

She was 11-for-22 from the floor, but made her last five shots and did what she could to keep the Lancers battling the Falcons late in the game.

The lefty-shooting Valverde averages team highs at 16.9 points and 8.4 boards per contest. 

In the first half, PCC (5-18 overall) hung tough against Cerritos (9-13) as Ava Chang hit a 30-foot, buzzer beater bank shot that left it behind at just 14-12 after one quarter. Valverde's layup with 30 seconds remaining in the half gave PCC a brief 25-24 lead. Cerritos responded with a jumper by Jayden Estrada (20 points) for a Falcons' 26-25 lead through two periods.

A Valverde putback tied it at 30-30, then a basket-and-one made it a one-point game with Cerritos ahead, 41-40, with 1:45 left in the third quarter. The Falcons scored the final eight points of the period with Estrada swishing two 3-pointers. Cerritos eventually built a 59-45 advantage and it was a hill too steep for the Lancers to climb.

Monica Menzies tallied 13 points (three treys) and added four assists and Chang scored 10 points. Kimberly Dominguez added seven points and four rebounds while defensive-minded Paris Ngeam grabbed 12 rebounds had four assists (no points, one field goal attempt). 

In a 74-52 loss at Rio Hondo on Jan. 31, Valverde made 11 free throws as part of her 17 points, Menzies contributed 15 points and five steals, and Nareh Kiledjian came off the bench to register eight points. 

On Friday, PCC hosts LA Trade-Tech in a South Coast Conference North Division contest. Tip-off is 5 p.m. at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.