The Eastern Arizona College women’s basketball team saw its remarkable season take a dramatic turn Wednesday night in Thatcher, as the top-ranked Gila Monsters fell to Arizona Western 51–50 in the Region I / West District championship game at Guitteau Gymnasium.
In a defensive battle from the start, Arizona Western built an early 14–4 lead after the first quarter, holding EAC to just four points in the opening period. The Gila Monsters responded in the second quarter, outscoring the Matadors 20–9 to take a 24–23 halftime lead.
The second half remained tight throughout. Both teams scored nine points in the third quarter before Arizona Western edged Eastern Arizona 18–17 in the fourth quarter to escape with the one-point win and the district title.
Esmeralda Enriquez led Eastern Arizona with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Eanae Dagons added 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam chipped in nine points, and Stephany Goncalves finished with seven rebounds and three assists.
Eastern Arizona controlled the glass, outrebounding Arizona Western 40–28, including 15 offensive rebounds, but struggled offensively, shooting 26.7 percent from the field (16-of-60).
Arizona Western was led by Garance Soulas, who scored 15 points, while Mable Doumbia added 12 for the Matadors.
The loss snapped a 29-game winning streak for the Gila Monsters. Eastern Arizona’s only other defeat this season came on November 6, a 77–74 overtime loss to College of Southern Idaho during the Gila Monster Tournament in Thatcher.
EAC had previously defeated Arizona Western three times during the regular season, including a 56–53 win in Yuma on January 24, a 66–54 victory in Thatcher on February 11, and a 71–44 win in Yuma on February 28.
With the victory, Arizona Western earns the automatic bid from the Region I / West District to the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Despite the loss, Eastern Arizona, which entered the week ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA national poll, remains in strong position for an at-large bid to the national tournament.
The Gila Monsters will now await their postseason fate on Selection Sunday, when the NJCAA announces the national tournament field.
