Cochise Women's Basketball wraps up week with wins over two nationally-ranked teams

DOUGLAS, Ariz. -- Cochise started the week of battle with a tough task! Looking for revenge over the undefeated and #8 ranked team in the NJCAA, the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters; there was no doubt the Apaches had this date circled on their calendars. Earlier in the season the Apaches came up short against the Gila Monsters, missing 16 free throws and losing the game by 8 points. This Wednesday's matchup was nothing short of entertaining as the game went back and forth the entire night. Even with leading by as many as 10+ points, the Apaches couldn't seem to make that big pull away and the Gila Monsters continued to fight to stay in the game. With two minutes left in the game, the Apaches led by only two points. With the job of controlling the clock, after a miss at the rim by Jess Lawson and a huge offensive rebound by Maeva de la Fortuna Ngnawo; the Apaches put the ball in the hands of Sophomore Deja Jones and ran an isolation play where she blew by Easterns defense and found herself open for an easy lay in. Up by four, the Apaches go down on the defensive end and give up a lay-up that decreased their lead by two. After a miss by Deja Jones, the Gila Monsters called a timeout and ran a play that resulted in a clutch charge taken by freshman Chana Paxixe; which prevent a Gila Monster lay-in. The Apaches subsequently call a timeout and provoke fouls that result in free throws by sophomore Deja Jones and freshman Andjela Bigovic.

The Apaches gave the Gila Monsters their first defeat of the season and pulled off the upset. Freshmen Bigovic and Ngnawo led the Apaches in scoring. Bigovic finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds; Ngnawo scored 16 points and contributed 9 rebounds.

Coming off of Wednesday's conference-shaking win, the Apaches rolled that winning momentum into Saturday's match-up against Pima Community College. The Apaches secured a 15-point win after being up by as many as 20+ points. Freshman Ngnawo finished strong again for the Apaches with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Bigovic also doubled up with another double-digit performance, with 11 points shooting 60% from the three-point line.

The Apaches take the show on the road against Yavapai Community College, Wednesday, February 8th, and Phoenix College on Saturday February 11th.