Espinoza Smashes PCC Assists Record With 17 In Compton Win
At 17.4 points a game clip thus far this season, point guard Judith Espinoza is recognized by most Pasadena City College women's basketball team fans for her scoring prowess. On Wednesday night in the Lancers' South Coast Conference North Division opener at El Camino College-Compton Center, Espinoza showed everyone another part of her game--passing.
The 5-foot-3 freshman annihilated a school record for assists in a game with 17 as PCC opened the 8-game division schedule with an 83-42 victory. Espinoza (Eagle Rock High) scored just one basket, but was a feeder machine as she had 11 assists by halftime. The previous assists high was 13, achieved by three players, the last being Kinyada Johnson in 2008.
Several times, Espinoza fired pin-point passes from outside the 3-point line to open Lancers for easy layups. One of her best plays was her final assist when after she missed a layup attempt she adeptly tipped the ensuing offensive rebound to teammate and center Chanelle Fisher for a basket.
PCC, ranked No. 18 in the state top 20 poll, improved to 11-5 overall.
Many Lancers were beneficiaries of Espinoza's dish work, including shooting guard Kyrstin Nakamura, who made a team season-high six 3-point baskets and led PCC with 18 points. Nakamura bombed in five of those in the first half as Pasadena took a 46-27 lead at intermission.
Forward Regerina Baker added 15 points and 16 rebounds (13 in the first half). Fisher contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and blocked four shots. Off the bench, guard Chy'annea Hodges was a perfect 5-for-5 on layups as part of her 13 points, and guard Hope Peron had eight points and made four steals.
Reserve post player Tiyana Watkins had her best game with six points and eight rebounds. The Lancers made 53.8 percent of their FG attempts (35-for-65) and totaled a season-high 57 rebounds.
For Compton (0-10), Ifeoma Okaro scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Head coach Joe Peron's Lancers have a big test Friday, Jan. 9 when PCC visits No. 4-ranked East Los Angeles College for a 5 p.m. conference battle. The Huskies (15-2) lost their conference opener and had a 9-game winning streak snapped Wednesday against state No. 1-ranked Mt. San Antonio, 70-66.
Photo -Judith Espinoza