SMCC Women's Basketball Falls to Chandler-Gilbert CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College women's basketball team (5-24, 0-18 ACCAC) lost 80-74 to Chandler-Gilbert on Sophomore Day in an ACCAC home game on Saturday, Mar. 1. Sophomore guard Leslie Aguirre led SMCC with a career-high 25 points, freshman Sadie Gardner scored 16 due in part to four 3-pointers, and freshman DeeDee Medlock added 10 in the Cougars' season finale. 

The Coyotes led 35-27 at halftime and held off a Cougar rally in the second half as they won the frame 47-45. SMCC shot 40 percent (26 of 65) from the field and added 37 rebounds, 13 assists, 11 steals, and five blocks in defeat. 

Aguirre was an efficient 9 of 11 from the floor in 25 minutes. She added five assists, four rebounds, and two steals, and averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 24 games this season. 

Gardner came off the bench to finish 6 of 12 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range. She added five rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block in 27 minutes. Gardner averaged 7.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 18 games this season. 

Medlock scored 10 points in a reserve role, finishing 3 of 10 from the floor with a pair of 3-pointers in 23 minutes. She added three rebounds, two assists, and one steal in the loss. She averaged 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 23 games this year. 

Sophomore Rahimeh Salaam recorded six points, nine rebounds, four blocks, and one assist in 21 minutes. She averaged 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game in 23 contests this year. 

Sophomore guard Valery Velazquez finished with five points, four rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 32 minutes, and sophomore Auak Jok also scored five points.