The Azusa Aztecs will be playing in front of their home fans against the Don Lugo Conquistadores at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday. Azusa's defense has only allowed 23.9 points per game this season, so Don Lugo's offense will have their work cut out for Don Lugo.
While it was all tied up 12-12 at halftime, Azusa was not quite St. Lucy's equal in the second half on Tuesday. Azusa fell to St. Lucy's 34-30.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Lilliana Maldonado, who scored 7 points along with 7 rebounds and 4 steals. She is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now stole two or more in the last six games she's played. Another player making a difference was Ruby Untoria, who scored 6 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 steals.
Meanwhile, Don Lugo had to endure a three-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They walked away with a 53-41 win over Charter Oak on Tuesday.
Don Lugo got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Sarah Magadan out in front who scored 23 points along with 4 steals. That makes it six consecutive games in which Magadan has scored at least 25% of Don Lugo's points. Issabela Medina was another key contributor, scoring 8 points along with 13 rebounds.
Azusa's defeat was their third straight on the road, which bumped their record down to 6-2. As for Don Lugo, the victory got them back to even at 3-3.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Azusa have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 39.4 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Don Lugo struggles in that department as they've been averaging 36.7 per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
Azusa suffered a grim 59-34 defeat to Don Lugo in their previous matchup back in December of 2016. Thankfully for Azusa, Brianna Shuttle (who scored 15 points along with 3 steals) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
