EAC Lady Monsters hold off Apaches

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

THATCHER – The No. 13-ranked Eastern Arizona College women’s basketball team held court against conference rivals Cochise College on Wednesday, finishing off the Apaches with a trio of free throws down the stretch.

But a big putback by local Pima product Ashlynn Chlarson gave EAC breathing room. With 1:13 left in the game, the Lady Monsters were up by 4.

*Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Ashlynn Chlarson posts up and calls for the ball. Chlarson had a big block and a huge score to propel EAC in the final minutes.*

EAC (2-1 conference, 7-3 overall) shot 35.6% from the field to 34.6% for Cochise. The Lady Monsters also out-rebounded the Apaches, 33 to 29, and had more assists, 10 to 8.

EAC was led by Sarah Deng, who finished with 22 points on 7-10 shooting from the field, including a perfect 1-1 from beyond the arc and 7-11 from the free throw line. Deng finished just short of a double-double with 9 rebounds (3 offensive, 6 defensive) to go along with 4 assists and a steal.

*Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: EAC head women’s basketball coach Angelica de Paulo instructs her team.*

Former Pima prep player Chlarson went 2-6 from the field for 5 points with 5 rebounds (2 offensive, 3 defensive) and had a block and 4 fouls.

Reserve Danaeja Love Romero Ah Sam had a big night and hit two huge 3-pointers to propel EAC. Sam went into double figures with 11 points on 4-10 shooting from the field and 3-8 free throws.

*Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: EAC’s Sarah Deng utilizes a pick set by Ashlynn Chlarson to free herself from her defender.*

Karolina Padilla led Cochise College with 16 points on 5-15 shooting from the field and 5-8 from the charity stripe. Kaylynn Asberry also scored in double digits and pitched in 10 points off 3-8 shooting (0-3, 3-point attempt).

After trailing most of the first half, EAC came back to eke out a 1-point advantage, 39-38, at the start of the fourth period. The teams battled defensively for more than the first two minutes of game time until Sam broke the ice with her second deadly 3-pointer to give EAC a 4-point lead, 42-39, with 7:42 left to play.

*Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: Trinity Mayer ices the game with two straight free throws.*

Up 4, Chlarson got a huge block and gathered the defensive rebound with 6:17 left, leading to a layup by Lucia Auza, assisted by Deng.

With just 1:18 left to play and the game on the line with EAC up 48-46, Eanae Dagons snared the offensive rebound and fed Chlarson, who made the layup to put the Lady Monsters up 50-46.

From there, Deng added a free throw, and Trinity Mayer iced it with two free throws with 3 seconds left to make the final 53-48.

EAC will next travel to Coolidge on Saturday, Dec. 7, for a day game against Central Arizona College, starting at 2 p.m.