The women’s basketball team entered the Thanksgiving break 0-3, with the three losses being at the hands of Scottsdale Community College, Mesa Community College and Central Arizona College.
The Apaches managed to keep the lead going into halftime in the game against Scottsdale. But an explosive third quarter helped propel the Artichokes to a 10 point victory over the Apaches. The stunning second-half three-point shooting of the Artichokes created a gap that the Apaches could never close. The Artichokes ended the night shooting 50% from the three-point line. Aja Phoumiphat, Tatjana Tatar, Corina Suarez Tudela and Ajda Licina, Cochise sophomores scored in double digits.
The Mesa Thunderbirds flew away with a 60-49 win after winning three out of the four quarters. The war on the boards also favored the Thunderbirds, who out rebounded the Apaches 36-29. Two of the three Las Vegas natives, Deyanna Bogan and Jessenia Lawson, led the Apaches in scoring with 11 and 12 points.
Central Arizona College proved to be a challenge for the Cochise women’s basketball team, predominantly in the second half. The Apaches and the Vaqueros entered the second half all tied up but a determined second-half performance by CAC’s sophomore Denali Hughes, who poured in 20 points in the half, helped create a gap the Apaches weren’t able to close. The Apaches contained the sophomore in the first half, holding Hughes to two points. Sophomore Tatjana Tatar and freshman Jessenia Lawson led the Apaches in scoring with 11 and 10 points.
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Apaches open up the month’s game schedule with a trip to Yuma, AZ, to face the Matadors of Arizona Western. The Matadors present a fast-paced team that freshman center Alliance Ndiba leads. Rebounding and transition defense will be the name of the game for this match up.