By Matt Hickman/Sierra Vista Herald
THATCHER — Ashley Mitchell hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with three seconds to play to lift the Cochise College women’s basketball team to a 74-71 win over Eastern Arizona College on Saturday.
Mitchell popped out against a Gila Monster zone defense and had an open look from straight on. The win, on a night when the Apaches struggled mightily on defense, keeps Cochise a game ahead of Arizona Western for second place in the ACCAC standings.
“We were really flat; poor energy,” Cochise head coach Laura Hughes said. “We were down by eight points in the first half and we gave up way too many points. Eastern is a solid team, but we’ve got to have more energy.”
Johnishia Welles scored 24 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Mitchell had 21 and Tianna Brown scored 14.
The Apaches, ranked No. 24 in the NJCAA national poll, play at home against Tohono O’odham on Wednesday and face Chandler-Gilbert on Saturday.
Cochise men
THATCHER — For the second straight game, the Cochise College men’s basketball team let a double-digit halftime lead slip away, only to rally in time to preserve a victory, 97-87, at Eastern Arizona College on Saturday.
Cochise, ranked 24th in the nation, stayed a game behind Central Arizona and Arizona Western for first place in the ACCAC standings heading into Wednesday’s game at home against Tohono O’odham Community College.
Joe Bell Austin had 22 points and Demeco Blue was 9-for-16 from the field for 21 points and 15 rebounds. Tim Jacobs added 15 points.