Kennedy Jackson drained the game-winning, 3-point basket with just seven seconds left as the Pasadena City College women's basketball team got past Oxnard, 55-53, as part of the 2-day, Ventura VC Optimist Holiday Classic played Dec. 26-27.
The Lancers (9-8 overall) won Friday's opener, then lost another close one to host Ventura, 54-52, on Saturday.
Against Oxnard, Monica Menzies led four PCC players in double figures in scoring with 14 points (three treys) with seven rebounds. Kamora Fletcher produced 13 points and 12 rebounds, Celine Bolton-Ford tallied 12 points and nine boards and Fletcher, a freshman guard, notched 10 points and handed out five assists. Ava Chang added six points, six rebounds and three helpers.
PCC led 41-36 after three quarters, then upped it to 46-36 before Oxnard mounted a comeback behind the play of Sofia Moreno (20 points, 13 rebounds). Her layup with 28 seconds to gave the Condors a 53-52 advantage. Jackson though became the hero with her clutch long-distance shot.
Against Ventura, the Lancers took a 19-15 first-quarter lead, but the Pirates took control, ahead, 48-41, after three quarters. In the fourth period, Bolton-Ford's layup cut the deficit to just a basket, 50-48, with 4:31 remaining. Ventura hung on for the victory.
Bolton-Ford poured in 17 points, Menzies 13 points, and Fletcher posted 11 points, eight rebounds and six steals. Off the bench, Kimberly Dominguez made all four of her free throws (four points), grabbed four rebounds and had two assists.
Pasadena has a few players among the South Coast Conference statistical leaders in Bolton-Ford second in rebounding at 11.9 a game and Fletcher fifth in scoring at 15.4 points average.
The Lancers will begin the year 2026 on Thursday, Jan. 8 when they host state #25-ranked Long Beach City. Tip-off is 5 p.m. at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.