Espinoza’s Big Effort Lifts Women’s Cagers to 3rd at Honda of Pasadena Classic

The shortest player on the Pasadena City College women’s basketball team, Judith Espinoza, came up with the tallest performance in helping the Lancers secure third place in the inaugural Honda of Pasadena Classic Sunday. Espinoza scored 18 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds as PCC defeated Long Beach City College, 58-50, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

Espinoza, a 5-foot-3 freshman point guard out of Eagle Rock High, earned a spot on the All-Honda of Pasadena Classic Team. Pasadena finished 2-1 at the tournament.

College of the Sequoias won the tourney title with a 67-56 win over El Camino while Southwestern downed Citrus, 66-57, for the consolation crown.

PCC opened the LBCC win with a 15-4 run seven minutes into the game. The Vikings fought back, cutting the margin to two by halftime, 27-25. LBCC pulled ahead, 38-34, with 14:39 left. At that point, the Lancers went on a 10-0 run started by a 3-pointer by Espinoza. While Long Beach again cut the score to one, 46-45, with 6:37 to go, the PCC defense shut things down as the Lancers pulled away for the victory.

Starting first-year forward Regerina Baker scored 10 points, had six rebounds and four steals and did most of her work in the second half. Freshman starting forward Iliana Blanc led the team in rebounds with nine and had six points.

Off the bench, frosh guard Kyrstin Nakamura netted three 3-point baskets for the third straight game as part of her 10 points. Frosh guard Chy’annea Hodges added seven points. The team’s reserves were responsible for 24 of the team’s points. Starting freshman forward Iliana Blanc led the team in rebounds with nine and had six points.

1st Honda of Pasadena Classic All-Tournament Team

MVP–Corissa Turley, Sequoias
Hannah Ramirez, Sequoias
Shontalene Trudeau, El Camino
Alexis Delich, El Camino
Judith Espinoza, PASADENA
Armani Wiley, Long Beach
Taylor Smalley, Southwestern

The Lancers next play at the Glendale Tournament November 21-23 as they try to defend their 2013 championship title.