DOUGLAS — The Cochise College women’s team lost its first game of the season Saturday night against Mesa, 63-56.
“We just didn’t put them away,” Cochise head coach Laura Hughes told the Sierra Vista Herald. “We haven’t had a bad half in a very long time. We have good shooters, but we couldn’t get baskets when we needed to, and we couldn’t get stops when we needed to.”
Cochise led 36-29 at the half, but ended up behind by as many as nine points late in the game. Johnishia Welles led Cochise with 18 points, including 14 of the Apaches’ 20 second-half points. Yvonte Neal finished with nine points and Justina Prairie Chief had eight.
Cochise is 8-1 on the season and looks to bounce back Wednesday against Eastern Arizona. The game on the Douglas Campus begins at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Men’s basketball
DOUGLAS — The Cochise College men’s basketball team defeated Mesa on Saturday night, 73-69.
“I really enjoy these guys in terms of what they’re trying to do as a group,” Cochise head coach Jerry Carrillo told the Sierra Vista Herald. “We play 11 guys and I like their approach right now. I like that they have each other’s backs.”
The Apaches held a 41-34 lead at the half and pushed it to 53-38 with 15:51 to play. Mesa responded with a four-minute 16-2 run to cut it to one, but the Apaches never lost the lead. Jordan Russell had 17 points for Cochise, Demeco Blue and Ajak Magot had 10 apiece and Tim Jacobs had nine.
On Wednesday, Cochise takes its 8-1 record into another conference game against Eastern Arizona at 7:30 p.m. on the Douglas Campus. Admission to the game is free.