THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams combined for five victories over the weekend at Guitteau Gymnasium, according to a November 10 report.
The Gila Monster men improved to 4-0 under first-year coach Chris Martin, while the top-ranked women opened the defense of their NJCAA Division I national championship with three consecutive victories.
The men's team secured its first historical victory against Salt Lake in a 90-86 overtime win on Friday. Hunter Schenck of Eden, Utah, tied the game at 73 with a jumper with four seconds remaining in regulation. Freshman Deuce Newt led the men with 24 points, followed by Daniel Trotenya with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. Malachi Seely-Roberts contributed 11 points and seven rebounds, while Alex Horton scored 10 points. Salt Lake's Muhammed Jobe led the Bruins with 34 points and 10 rebounds.
Following the overtime win, the men defeated Community Christian College 109-55 on Saturday. Deuce Newt scored 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while Jacob Rice added 16 points and a perfect 9-for-9 free-throw performance. Aiden McIntyre contributed 15 points, Moroni Seely-Roberts recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Kristupas Miselis finished with eight points and nine rebounds. JoJo Ruelas contributed four points, an assist, and a steal in 20 minutes. Eastern Arizona shot 55.7% from the field and earned 70 points from its bench.
The women's team began their championship defense on Thursday with a 56-54 victory over Salt Lake. Amelia Corassaniti of Narrogin, Western Australia, led the squad with 12 points and seven rebounds. Ana Lopes and Diamond Prince each contributed eight points off the bench.
On Friday, the women defeated Snow College 71-55, led by Masa Jovanovic who scored 17 points and five 3-pointers. The team completed a sweep on Saturday with an 81-53 win over North Idaho College. Sarah Perrussel of Villeurbanne, France, led the team with 18 points, including three 3-pointers, while Lamaiya Woodberry added 10 points and Jovanovic finished with nine.
In the women's tournament, Arizona Western College also finished undefeated with a 3-0 record, including a 64-61 comeback victory over Salt Lake on Saturday. Salt Lake, Snow, and Cochise finished the women's tournament with 1-2 records, while North Idaho went 0-3.
In the men's tournament, Central Arizona College joined Eastern Arizona as the only unbeaten teams. The Vaqueros finished 2-0 with victories over Community Christian and Salt Lake. Central Arizona secured a 83-79 overtime win against Salt Lake on Saturday, following a 32-second 3-pointer by Carter Doleac of Sandy, Utah, that forced the extra period. Salt Lake finished the men's tournament 0-2, while Community Christian also went 0-2.
