DOUGLAS, Ariz. – The Arizona Western College Matadors women's basketball team (9-7, 2-0 ACCAC) delivered a commanding performance on the road Wednesday, defeating Cochise College 72-58 in a conference matchup at Douglas. Arizona Western led from wire to wire, building a double-digit advantage by halftime and never letting the Apaches threaten, bolstered by stifling defense and balanced scoring throughout the roster.

Chen Pan led the way for the Matadors, pouring in 16 points on perfect 4-for-4 free-throw shooting while adding 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Pan's all-around effort set the tone for a well-rounded Arizona Western attack that overwhelmed Cochise from the opening tip.

Arizona Western's defense made an immediate statement, holding Cochise to just 10 points in the opening quarter to seize early momentum. The Matadors' active hands generated steals and turned defense into offense, opening up a 17-10 lead after one. In the second quarter, Arizona Western continued to dictate the pace, stretching the margin to 34-20 by halftime behind persistent pressure and strong rebounding.

The Matadors pushed their advantage further out of the break, outscoring Cochise 22-15 in the third quarter and taking a 56-35 lead into the final period. A buzzer-beating layup by Jessica Liena, assisted by Pan, capped the quarter and ignited the Arizona Western bench. Midway through the fourth, the lead ballooned to 24 points after Marta Vieira drilled a three-pointer assisted by Kimora Jenkins. The Matadors' depth and team chemistry were on full display, as Cochise was unable to mount a serious comeback.

Mable Doumbia dominated the glass with 9 rebounds and added 9 points and 3 assists, controlling the paint on both ends. Vieira sparked the offense with 11 points off the bench, connecting on 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. Garance Soulas chipped in 11 points and 4 rebounds, going 6-for-7 at the line. Liena contributed 3 steals on the defensive end, helping the Matadors finish with 13 team steals and a 22-18 edge in points off turnovers.

Arizona Western showcased its depth, with four players in double figures and the bench outscoring Cochise's reserves 26-13. The Matadors also controlled the paint, posting a 32-18 advantage in points inside.

Up Next

Arizona Western returns to Yuma to host College of Southern Nevada in another key conference matchup Saturday at 2 p.m.