Sports in the News

Rose City Classic Is PCC's Domain Again

While the Pasadena City College women's basketball team hasn't had the best of starts to a season, the Lancers have always relied on their annual December host tournament to get the team rolling in the right direction. For the 11th time in 14 seasons, PCC captured the re-named DoubleTree by Hilton Rose City Classic, holding on to defeat College of the Canyons, 71-65, in the championship final Sunday at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

Unranked in the state poll for a rare time in its history under head coach Joe Peron, PCC evened its record at 5-5 with three straight victories Dec. 9-11. Canyons had been rated No. 16 in the most recent state poll. In the Southern California Regional Poll, the Lancers are No. 14 out of 15 squads.

Sophomore forward Marquetta Stokes scored 23 points, 17 in the second half, as she earned tourney MVP honors. Stokes made 11 of 16 free throws while freshman guard Stella Ghazarian was also picked All-Tournament. She had 10 points, including a pair of 3s.

Returning center Tonisha Lacey was a force with 12 points and 18 rebounds while sophomore forward Destinee Sellers also posted a double-double on 10 points and 11 rebounds (and five steals). Second-year guard Vera Machado added nine points and seven rebounds. Transfer point guard Tiffany Thompson chipped in three points and eight assists.

Sellers gave PCC the lead for good at 47-45 on a pair of free throws with 10:19 left.

For Canyons (6-4), All-Tournament selection Angelica Sahagun poured in 25 points (18 in the first half). Bev Weaver, who had nine points and five steals, also made the All-Tournament squad for the Cougars.

As PCC goes back to regular practices, the team will likely be doing more free throw shooting work. The team made just 16 of 37 free throws v. Canyons and at one point had converted only 3-for-17.

 In other Rose City Classic games, West Los Angeles won third place with a 63-50 win over LA Pierce and Lassen took the consolation title on a 64-50 victory over Butte.

PCC next hosts 12th-ranked El Camino College Friday, Dec. 16 in a South Coast Conference game. Tip-off is 6 p.m. The Lancers are 0-1 thus far in conference play.

ALL-DOUBLETREE BY HILTON ROSE CITY CLASSIC TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP--Marquetta Stokes, So. Forward, PCC
Stella Ghazarian, Fr. Guard, PCC
Angelica Sahagun, So. Guard, Canyons
Bev Weaver, So. Guard, Canyons
Chanea Adams, So. Guard, West Los Angeles
Taqueia Pitt, Fr. Guard, LA Pierce
Brianna Cheatum, So. Center, Lassen

[Photo--Marquetta Stokes goes up for a shot during PCC's 71-65 win over Canyons in the title game of the DoubleTree by Hilton Rose City Classic, image by Richard Quinton.]

Release Date: 12/11/11
Robert Lewis, Sports Information
Phone: 626-585-7018, Email: rmlewis@pasadena.edu

Revised February 8, 2013 by rmlewis@pasadena.edu