The Pima College women’s basketball team lived up to expectations of the coaching staff with the No. 7 seed in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament Bracket announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Aztecs (25-7) will take on No. 10 North Central Missouri (23-6) in a Round 10 match on March 21 at 10:00 am Tucson time in Part Huron, Michigan.
‘We probably landed where we thought we were going to land,’ said Pima coach Todd HolthouseIn 16 years as a manager, he has led his 7th team to the national tournament. “We had him finish 10th in the last poll, with 7 of the top 10 teams winning.
“I don’t want to always be an 8 (seed) because I play a 1 in the second round. Anything less than 8 is fine.”
.@Pima WBB @AztecCoachTodd In his 16th season at the school, he led his program to his sixth NJCAA D2 tournament. The No. 7 seed Pima will take on No. 10 North Central Missouri in the first round next Tuesday in Port Huron, Michigan. pic.twitter.com/bBrQHn8RWh
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 14, 2023
The No. 1 seed is Cicero, Illinois, Morton College, 31-0, including victories over ACCAC opponents Central Arizona and Mesa.
No. 2 Community College of Baltimore, Md. County (32-1) and No. 15 Grand Rapids, Michigan (19-8) winners in March quarterfinals if Pima beats North Central Missouri will play against 5:22 p.m. Tucson time.
‘It’s kind of a new experience for all of us,’ said third-year point guard Angel Adolman, a graduate of Palo Verde. “I’m really excited. Right now, he’s just one game at a time, but these are the best teams, so I’m excited to take on the challenge and have this experience together.”
Adolman and fellow guards Luisa Chavez Due to COVID-19 impacting the 2020-21 freshman season, the three years of Rio Rico are eligible for three years instead of the common two years at a junior college.
.@Pima WBB A true S. Arizona team with seven players from this region of the team, including the experienced backcourt of Angel Adolman (Palo Verde) and Luisa Chavez (Rio Rico). @AztecCoachTodd Already four local players are scheduled to participate next year. @IRHS Nighthawks. pic.twitter.com/krk5Jr7x8H
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 14, 2023
The Pima only played five regular season games that year due to pandemic restrictions. The Aztecs won the district championship game in Dallas and qualified for the national tournament in Hickory, North Carolina, but were eliminated in the first round.
Adolman suffered a torn ACL late last season, and Pima lost to Mesa in the regional championship game.
“They have a little bit of experience (at nationals),” Holthaus said of Adolman and Chavez. “The biggest thing I try to maintain is to be as normal as possible. Enjoy your time there because it will be a lasting memory. And I will try to have fun on the side.”
.@Pima WBB Palo Verde’s PG Angel Addleman was finally able to lead Aztecs to a full national tournament (Pima played one in 2021, but on a smaller scale due to COVID-19 restrictions). She’s teaming up with her third-year guard Luisa Chavez, fellow Rico Rico, one of her most experienced backcourt players in the tournament. pic.twitter.com/cULTbZUUSu
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 14, 2023
Aztecs found out about their tournament seeding and bracket standings at a watch party at the West Campus Gym.
Having won the Region I Division II title in Scottsdale last weekend, they knew they were already in the national competition.
.@Pima WBB The No. 7 seed faces No. 10 North Central Missouri on Tuesday in the first round of the NJCAA Division II tournament. pic.twitter.com/DYeGA1pYO8
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 14, 2023
So the Aztecs didn’t react like crazy when their name appeared on the screen. They clapped loudly, and Holthaus said, “Yeah!” behind where they sat.
“I’m really grateful and grateful to be in seventh place,” said sophomore forward Mateja Abert, the former Arizona player’s niece. Cliff Johns“Just practice and go to work.”
.@Pima WBB Forward Mateja Abert, the niece of former Arizona player Cliff Johns, is perfectly healthy and ready to go to the NJCAA D2 tournament starting next week in Michigan. Record a rebound. pic.twitter.com/nWziVmw9wQ
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 14, 2023
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club awardee. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beats his reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won his 1996–97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for many publications including CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America.he also wrote a book “Best way to live”, available on Amazon. He became an educator five years before he was born and is currently a special education teacher at the Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
