Women’s basketball team advances despite injury

The PCC women’s basketball team advanced to the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs Friday night in a 100-65 victory over Santa Barbara City College (17-14).The win may have cost the Lancers (27-5) one of their best players in freshman forward Easter Faafiti. Faafiti went out four minutes into the first half, with an apparent right foot injury. For the remainder of the first half, Faafiti was stuck on the trainer’s table with a bag of ice taped to her foot.

When the team entered the gym for second half warm-ups, Faafiti was absent and only appeared again with just under five minutes to play in the second half with crutches in hand. She scored two points in only four minutes of play.

“We’re hoping it’s just a strained arch,” Head Coach Joe Peron said of Faafiti’s injury, “It’s the same foot she had surgery on before the season began.”

With the loss of their starting forward, the Lancers found themselves down early to a hot shooting Santa Barbara team, 19-16 and 21-19. Then, with the aid of strong play by sophomore guard Lynette Jacobs and freshman guard Melia Basavand, the Lancers went on a 32-6 run to take a 51-27 lead at the half.

Basavand scored 12 points on 4-4 shooting from three-point range during the run and finished with 16 points.

Jacobs led the team with 27 points and 9 assists and also had 6 rebounds.

Even with the small early deficit with the Vaqueros connecting on multiple three-point shots, Peron was not afraid of being upset.

“[Santa Barbara] was excited,” Peron said, “We knew they had to cool down.”

Sophomore guard Anna Magganas scored 20 points on 8-12 shooting and was often the recipient of the combined 18 assists from Jacobs and freshman point guard Kinyada Johnson.

The loss of Faafiti was felt most on the boards, as the Lancers were out rebounded by the Vaqueros 41-40, despite having a height advantage at nearly every position.

“That won’t happen again.” Peron said of the Lancers’ rebounding woes.

Sophomore center and second team All-state selection Kieisha Phelps struggled early, with her first points coming with 5:34 remaining in the first half. Even with the slow start, Phelps finished with a double-double, scoring 14 points with 13 rebounds.

The Vaqueros, who finished second in the northern division of the Western State Conference, were led by third team All-State selection Ari Hendrix-Roach, who had 19 points and 6 assists.

The Lancers will face the winner of the sixth seeded Palomar versus eleventh seeded Mt. San Jacinto, who play tomorrow.

The second round match up will be hosted by PCC on March 8 at 7 p.m.