Up-Tempo PCC Women’s Hoops Post Season-Opening 40-Point Victory

The Pasadena City College women’s basketball team displayed a variety of new talents that have its fans excited following an 85-45 win over Taft in the season-opening Honda of Pasadena Classic Friday. The first round game was one of four contests played at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium in the inaugural tournament that continues Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 15-16.

The Lancers scored 55 points in the opening 20 minutes, looking more like a team in mid-season form than one that featured nine different players in their college debuts.

Leading the way was frosh forward Iliana Blanc, who scored a game-high 19 points, grabbed 13 rebounds with four assists and two blocked shots. Blanc looked comfortable in the paint as she made 9-of-12 inside shots. First-year forward Regerina Baker also made a double-double on 15 points and 13 rebounds plus three steals.

Pushing a fast-tempo offense that is a signature of head coach Joe Peron teams were guards Emily Thach, the only returning player from the ’13-14 Lancers, and freshman point player Judith Espinoza. Thach scored 15 of her 17 points in the opening half and added a team-high four steals. Espinoza scored nine points and dished out 11 assists. Off the bench, guard-forward Dariel Johnson was explosive at times with 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

The team’s 6-3 starting center Chanelle Fisher, a bounce back from Grambling State University, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked two shots as he added to the team’s inside presence.

The team’s top 3-point shooter appears to be reserve frosh guard Kyrstin Nakamura, who knocked down three treys for nine points. Espinoza and Thach will also be long-range shooters as PCC hopes to improve a weakness it had from the 3-point line last season.

“We did a great job on the fast break, and the transition basketball is something that can help carry us,” Peron said. “We have more height than I think we’ve had in recent years, and now our inside game appears stronger. If we can develop our outside shooting that would give us three different ways to score. It’s early, but a good sign to see our freshmen excelling right away.”

In other Honda of Pasadena Classic games Friday, El Camino downed Citrus, 72-38, Long Beach City defeated Southwestern, 83-52, and College of the Sequoias routed Pierce, 91-40.

The Lancers face El Camino Saturday night in a 6 p.m. championship semfinals matchup. In the other championship semifinal, Long Beach plays Sequoias at 8 p.m. In the consolation semis, Citrus takes on Taft at 2 p.m. and Southwestern plays Pierce at 4 p.m.