YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Lady Matadors Women's Basketball team (14-5, 10-2) returned to the win column with a 73-44 win over South Mountain (0-17, 0-12) on Tuesday evening in Phoenix.

Alliance Ndiba and Dyvine Harris led all scorers each with 16 points while Ilris Aworet set a new season-high with 10 points off the bench to hold the Lady Matadors to the win.

The Lady Matadors opened the game on a 9-0 run before South Mountain went on a run of their own to cut the early Lady Matadors' lead to 11-7, forcing an Arizona Western timeout. Harris hit a three-pointer out of the timeout to start a 9-3 run to end the quarter, bumping the Lady Matadors' lead to 20-10.

After Arizona Western got the lead up to 14 points at 24-10, South Mountain cut that advantage to eight points at 26-18 before Alynna Palacios put the lead back into double digits at 28-18 with a layup. Harris hit another three to extend the lead to 32-18 and the Lady Matadors closed the first half on a 9-3 run, just as they did to end the first quarter.

South Mountain was able to climb back to within 14 points at 49-35 early in the third quarter but the Lady Matadors used a 9-0 run which was capped off by an Aworet layup to regain control, taking a 58-35 lead into the fourth quarter.

Davielis Berroa and Rita Gomes each finished the game with eight points and Fatima Katembo scored seven points in the win.

The Lady Matadors return home on Friday, January 26, hosting Central Arizona in an ACCAC showdown at the House Gymnasium at 5:30 pm.  Tickets are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for seniors while Arizona Western College students get in free with their AWC ID.