Women's Basketball Takes 2nd At Moorpark Invitational

The Pasadena City College women's basketball team had a 3-game win streak stopped in the championship game of the Moorpark We Are MC Invitional on Saturday, but the Lancers went 2-1 overall and placed second in the 8-team tourney played Nov. 6-8.

PCC (3-2 record) defeated LA Valley, 69-54, and then knocked off state pre-season ranked #16 San Jose City, 66-57, in the semifinals before #5 host Moorpark downed the Lancers, 83-51, for the tourney title.

Making the All-Moorpark Tournament Team were guards Lyndsey Valverde and Monica Menzies. Against LA Valley, Valverde scored 17 points, including burying three 3-pointers, along with six assists and five rebounds while Menzies chipped in 12 points, six boards and four helpers. 

Kamora Fletcher added 13 points and Celine Bolton-Ford was a force off the bench in totaling 12 points, 15 rebounds and two steals. The Lancers were 9-for-23 from beyond the 3-point arc including a trio of treys by Ava Chang (nine points). Paris Ngeam continued her fine defense as she contributed four points, nine rebounds and four assists. 

Against San Jose, PCC opened up by draining five threes for a 23-16 first-quarter lead. In the second quarter, the Lancers dominated the 10 minutes, outscoring the Jaguars, 18-4, for a 41-20 halftime lead. San Jose rallied to cut the big lead to five at 52-47 with less than seven minutes remaining. Menzies drilled a 3-pointer and the Lancers kept their distance in completing the big victory.

Menzies poured in 25 points, making 5-for-11 from 3-point land, while adding four assists and three steals. Valverde scored 12 of her 15 points in the opening quarter, sank 4-for-10 on long-range shots. Fletcher posted a double-double on 13 points and 13 rebounds plus four assists and Bolton-Ford controlled the post by grabbing 16 rebounds, scoring six points.

Overall, Pasadena converted 11 shots from distance and was a solid 15-for-21 from the free throw line. The starters including Valverde, Menzies, Fletcher and Kimberly Dominguez were a combined perfect 11-for-11 from the stripe. 

Against Moorpark, Valverde tallied 13 points with nine rebounds and four assists while Bolton-Ford came off the bench for 13 points and seven boards. The Raiders were led by tourney MVP Alyssa Saldana who scored a game-high 25 points. 

The Lancers take a break until Thursday, Nov. 20 when they host Fullerton, a team that was state #23 ranked on last year's final poll. Game time is 6 p.m. at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.