Lady Greyhounds Take 7th in the Nation Over Pima (AZ)

Dominant from start to finish, the Lady Greyhounds used a staunch defense and consistent offense to take a 65-47 victory in the 7th Place game of the NJCAA National Tournament in Hickory, North Carolina.

The victory closes out a season that sets records for wins in a season (25), winning percentage (.926), first District Championship, and first trip to the NJCAA National Tournament.

The Lady Greyhounds started the game with perhaps their best defensive performance of the season as they held Pima to just three points with no field goals in the first quarter. Cierra Penn started the scoring with a three-pointer from the right wing before Ashley Pegue added another at the 4:21 mark, and Keiana Delaney scored the last 5 points of the quarter.

Leading 16-3 heading into the second quarter, ASU Mid-South saw the Lady Aztecs finally hit their first field goal at the 9:08 mark before giving up back-to-back layups as Pima started to find their offense. But the Lady Greyhounds answered with a pair of 12-foot jumpers from Haven Cooper, who was fouled on an offensive rebound and added 2 free throws with 1.4 seconds left in the period as ASU Mid-South led 34-19 at the half.

After halftime, the Lady Greyhounds wasted no time in increasing the lead to 20 points as Meleanna Williams hit a 15-foot jumper to start the scoring and continued by scoring 6 of the next 8 points. And as she did to close out the first half, Keiana Delaney scored the final 5 points of the quarter to give the Lady Greyhounds a 53-35 lead heading into the final quarter.

Pima then came out in the fourth quarter and scored first with a 6-foot jumper in the paint. But Ashley Pegue dashed any hopes of a comeback as the sophomore guard canned three 3-pointers in the final period and the Lady Greyhounds coasted to the victory.

Keiana Delaney and Ashley Pegue both finished with 15 points while Meleanna Williams scored 14 points. Aaliyah Lee chipped in 8 points to go with a game-high 11 rebounds while Cierra Penn finished with 3 points, 5 rebounds, a team-high 3 steals, 2 blocks and a game-high 6 assists. ASU Mid-South shot 35.8% from the field and 38.9% from the three-point line as Pegue went 5-of-9 from behind the arc. The Lady Greyhounds also forced 19 Pima turnovers while holding the Lady Aztecs to just 22.2% shooting from the field and 16.7% from the arc.