Central Arizona men, women at AWC preview
No. 8 Central Arizona women at Arizona Western
Time: 5:30 p.m. today, The House
Media: 560-AM KBLU, Time Warner Cable Ch. 74, www.azwestern.edu/athletics (audio and video)
Last game: The Matadors beat Mira Costa 62-28 on Saturday; The Vaqueras beat Snow 68-34 Saturday at a tournament in Tucson.
Records: AWC (11-3 overall, 4-1 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Central Arizona (12-1 overall, 5-0 ACCAC)
Players to watch: AWC’s Samantha Wallace recorded another double in her last game and is averaging 16.5 points and 11.8 points per game. ... Brea Edwards averages 20.9 points per game for the Vaqueras.
The lowdown: The Vaqueras and Matadors have been the cream of the ACCAC crop recently, with the teams meeting consistently in the NJCAA Region I Division I title game. Last season was no different, with the Vaqueras advancing, yet again, to the NJCAA national tournament with a 68-59 win. Central has won the last four in the matchup, and before that loss had gone since 2003 without losing to AWC — or any other ACCAC team, for that matter. ... Each team has two players averaging a double-double. In addition to Wallace, teammate Emilie Muanandibu is averaging 11.8 points and 11.8 rebounds. For the Vaqueras, it’s Ijeoma Uchendu (16.4-11.8) and Joymesia Howard (13.9-11.8). ... The Vaqueras are coached by Denise Cardenas, a standout player not only for the Vaqueras but also for Kofa. ... The Matadors have another tough home test Saturday, facing Cochise. The Apaches are 6-1 in ACCAC play, a game ahead of the Matadors.
No. 18 Central Arizona men at Arizona Western
Time: 7:30 p.m. today, The House
Media: 560-AM KBLU, Time Warner Cable Ch. 74, www.azwestern.edu/athletics (audio and video)
Last game: The Matadors edged Chandler-Gilbert 76-75; The Vaqueros beat Williston State (N.D.) 82-73 Sunday in the Fiesta Bowl Shootout.
Records: AWC (11-3 overall, 6-0 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Central Arizona (9-3 overall, 6-1 ACCAC)
Players to watch: Marvin Whitt leads the Matadors with 14.1 points per game and is averaging 15.0 points per game in the last two contests against the Vaqueros. ... DesJuan Newton leads Central with 18.3 points per game.
The lowdown: Central has risen to the top of the ACCAC ranks, making the NJCAA Region I Division I title game last year, but has lost 14 straight to the Matadors, including that championship game last year, 57-51 in Yuma. The Matadors also won 75-72 in Yuma last year and 83-81 in Coolidge. ... Tanner Clayton has been a big factor for the Matadors this year, particularly on defense. He’s grabbing 10.9 rebounds per game and 2.8 blocks. He’s also one of four Matadors in double-digit scoring, and leads the team in both free throw and field goal percentage. ... The average margin of victory for the Matadors is 1.5, for the Vaqueros it’s 26.2.
