NO. 11 MESA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DEFEATS NO. 8 PIMA IN ACCAC RIVALRY MATCHUP
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mesa Community College (11-3, 5-0) | 18 | 26 | 10 | 17 | 71 |
|
Pima Community College (12-4, 4-2) | 19 | 11 | 12 | 18 | 60 |
Pima Community College
| Game Statistics | Mesa Community College | Pima Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (22-58) | (24-61) |
| Field Goal % | 37.9% | 39.3% |
| Rebounds | 36 | 42 |
| Assists | 18 | 20 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 19 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 12 | 12 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 12 | 5 |
| Pts in the Paint | 20 | 22 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 32 | 16 |
Wednesday January 7, 2026 - 8:00 p.m. | Dylan DeVlieger
No. 11 Mesa Community College earned a major conference road win Wednesday night, knocking off No. 8 Pima Community College 71–60 in Tucson to stay unbeaten in ACCAC play and improve to 11–3 overall, 5–0 ACCAC.
Mesa took control in the second quarter behind its most efficient offensive stretch of the night. After trailing by one after the opening period, the Thunderbirds outscored Pima 26–11 in the second quarter to build a 44–30 halftime lead.
MCC's scoring leaders set the tone early as Lakeisha Robinson had 12 points at the half, Carmella Gallardo added 11, and Meisha Caserio scored 10 through two quarters. The Thunderbirds paired scoring balance with elite efficiency, shooting 6-for-13 from three and a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line in the first half.
Pima worked to close the gap after the break, but Mesa continued to control possession and pace, limiting the Aztecs to 12 points in the third quarter and preserving a double-digit advantage into the fourth. MCC closed the game at the line and on the glass, finishing 20-for-23 at the stripe and getting strong production across the lineup.
Gallardo and Robinson finished with 16 points each as Gallardo hit four threes, while Robinson added 9 rebounds and went 6-for-6 at the line. Caserio totaled 12 points, and Sydnee Patterson scored 9 points going 7-for-8 from the free throw line. Amya Bekele added 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists, and Mesa's bench outscored Pima 32–16.
Mesa shot 41% from three and 87% at the free-throw line, combining efficient offense with consistent defensive stops to secure the top-10 road victory.
The T-Birds are back at home on Saturday as they host South Mountain.
Photo Credit: Francisco Coronado