Mesa Legend - Sports - T-birds fall to AWC but clinch division title

T-birds fall to AWC but clinch division title

Aaron Dunton
Mesa Legend

Many would have thought that when the Lady Thunderbirds of Mesa went on a 17-4 run to begin their game on Feb. 24, it would have been enough to beat the Matadors of Arizona Western.
That was not the case, as the Thunderbirds blew 13 and 11 point leads in a tough 57-52 loss for the ladies of Mesa.
Rebounding ended up being the achille’s heel in the women’s loss as they combined for only 5 defensive rebounds in the entire first half.
The Lady Thunderbirds did come out strong in the first half, thanks in large part to their defensive stand, as the team only allowed 4 points in the first 8 minutes of the game.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for the offense. The team as a whole shot 31 percent from the field in the game, and only 24 percent in the second half. Leading by 3 with 4 minutes to go, the Thunderbirds managed only two more points the rest of the game, proving to be the turning point in the game.
Danielle Reiher led the Thunderbirds in scoring with 15 points. She shot 7 for 10 from the free throw line. She was also the team’s leading rebounder on the the night, pulling in 6 rebounds.
Jessica Tsingine also contributed to the Lady T-birds offensively as she was the only other player in double figures with 10 points. Tsingine’s two three pointers in the second half helped keep the game close for MCC.
The Thunderbirds though, had trouble containing AWC’s Katrina Johnson. Johnson a 6 foot 2 inch center out of Portland, OR torched the T-birds for 18 points on 7 for 10 shooting. Johnson also had 6 rebounds for the Matadors who outrebounded the Thunderbirds 43-34.
Kim Etol chipped in 16 points for the Lady Matadors who won despite shooting only 39 percent from the floor.
Mesa, now 12-8 in conference and 15-12 overall, enters the last week of the regular season leading the ACCAC Division II by two games. Even with the tough loss against Arizona Western, the Lady Thunderbirds have already clinched a playoff spot and will host a playoff game this upcoming week at home.
The success of the team is due in large part to freshman point guard Charlieann Chacon, who is third in the ACCAC in steals with 3.5 steals per game. Reiher, also a freshman has contributed tremendously as well. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 14 points a game.
The young team is also anchored by Alissa Ingallina, a Hamilton High School graduate, who is sure to be a key component in the teams run for a berth in the national tournament.
With a late win on Feb. 27 against Cochise College, the Lady Thunderbirds will host a first round playoff game on Tuesday night at Theo Heap Gymnasium. The time is yet to be determined.