Sports in the News

Shahinian All-Tournament As Women's Cagers 3rd At Desert Classic

The Pasadena City College women's basketball team saw its five-game winning streak end, but went on to take third place at the eight-team, College of the Desert Thanksgiving Classic tournament held Nov. 26-28.

The Lancers (6-1 overall) downed Victor Valley, 82-59, in the first round before getting beat by Yavapai College of Prescott, Arizona, 79-70, in the championship semifinals. PCC recovered the next day to post an easy 71-29 victory over Long Beach City College in the third place final. It was the second time the Lancers downed the Vikings, in a span of 11 days.

PCC sophomore guard Anna Shahinian was named All-Desert Tournament after scoring a team season-high 25 points in the VVC win. She added 11 points v. Yavapai and 13 against Long Beach.

Shahinian, a member of the 2010 Academic All-State team, was 7-for-9 at the free throw line, hit two 3-pointers, and had six short range baskets in the Victor Valley game. Sophomore center Dominique Scott added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while letterman point guard Stephanie DeFrance had 12 points, five rebounds and three steals. 

Off the bench, freshman forward Destinee Sellers was 6-for-6 from the line for her six points and nine rebounds. Frosh guard Kim Wong contributed eight points. PCC made 20 of 26 from the charity stripe for a .769 shooting percentage. 

In the Yavapai loss, PCC led 37-35 at halftime, but saw Scott foul out after scoring a team-high 13 points. Freshman shooting guard Vera Machado had 10 points off the bench and sophomore transfer guard Desiree Strings tallied five points, six rebounds, and four assists. 

PCC clinched third place at the Desert tournament as 13 of its 15 players scored against Long Beach. The Lancers allowed just 10 second-half points to LBCC. Shahinian led the team with her 13 points (plus four steals) while Soctt added 11 points and eight rebounds. Frosh center Bri'ale McCoy totaled five points and seven rebounds, and Strings nine points and four assists. First-year center Melanie Samvalian sank 6-for-6 from the line for her six points and grabbed four rebounds. 

After seven games, Scott is averaging 13 points and 8.1 rebounds. The returning All-South Coast Conference First Team post player recently passed the 500-point mark for her career, becoming the 24th Lancer to reach as many points. Her current 533 points has her in 21st place on the all-time scoring list. She has an outside shot at becoming a 1,000-point player, accomplished by only three players in the college's women's basketball history.

The Lancers won't be in action again until Friday, Dec. 10 when they travel to face El Camino College (Torrance) in a 5 p.m. conference game. PCC is 1-0 in early SCC play.

[Photo--Anna Shahinian shows her shooting form in a recent game, image by Richard Quinton.]

Release Date: 12/03/10
Robert Lewis, Sports Information
Phone: 626-585-7018, Email: rmlewis@pasadena.edu

Revised February 8, 2013 by rmlewis@pasadena.edu