Arizona Western unable to play spoiler in regular season finale
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Matadors women's basketball team has been a juggernaut for most of the season. On Saturday, they took on a different role at "The House" and came into the game looking to upset the number one ranked team in the nation - the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters.
Letting up a 19-1 run to start play was not an ideal way to accomplish the feat.
A pair of fast breaks - one thanks to an Eryn Brandon-Pollard steal - to end the first quarter gave the Matadors a shot at resurrection, but whatever heart beat they had would not keep pace past the second quarter. They hit the break down 36-15.
The second half was not a friendly one, either. The Gila Monsters continued to prove why no one is ranked higher in the country. Eventually, they worked their way to a 57-30 lead and never held a lead less than 17 points through the final buzzer.
Garance Soulas, Kimora Jenkins and Jessica Liena all had nine points in action, but no Matador was able to crack double digits.
As a team, Arizona Western shot 16-46 from the field - including 2-12 from deep range - and only found the bottom of the net on 10-out-of-20 free throw attempts.
Arizona Western concludes an 0-3 season series against Eastern Arizona but have not lost to a different opponent since December 16. They finish the regular season with a 19-10 record overall and a 12-3 record in ACCAC play.
The Matadors can now shift their focus to the postseason.
