YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western College Lady Matadors Women's Basketball team (19-9, 15-6) started the weekend with a 68-66 loss to Central Arizona (9-18, 8-13) in Coolidge, Ariz., on Friday evening.

Alliance Ndiba led the Lady Matadors with 26 points while Dyvine Harris added 12 in the Lady Matadors' third consecutive loss. 

The Lady Matadors got off to a quick, start, taking an early 8-4 lead with Ndiba scoring four of the Lady Matadors' first eight points. Central Arizona Went on an 8-0 run to grab a 12-8 lead. Alynna Palacios beat the buzzer to get the Lady Matadors within a point at 15-14 at the end of the first quarter. Arizona Western used a 4-0 run to retake the lead at 18-15. The Vaqueras scored 15 of the next 17 points to take a 30-20 lead before Arizona Western closed the half on a run to cut the deficit to 39-35 at the half.

Central Arizona maintained the lead throughout the entire third quarter, pushing the lead up to eight points. The Lady Matadors went on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-47 before the Vaqueras hit a late three to stop the run. Davielis Berroa hit a free throw just before the end of the quarter to trim the margin to 52-48 at the end of three quarters. The Lady Matadors started the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run and took a 53-52 lead on a Berroa three-pointer. The Vaqueras took the lead back quickly, going on an 8-3 run, taking a 61-56 lead on a made three-pointer. The Lady Matadors jumped back in front with 45 seconds remaining but Central Arizona hit a three-pointer with 30 seconds to go to take the 68-66 lead before the Lady Matadors missed a pair of shots with less than 10 seconds to go.

Berroa was the Lady Matadors' third-leading scorer with 10 points and Fatema Katembo finished the game with nine.

The Lady Matadors are back in action in Coolidge on Saturday, March 2, finishing off a two-game weekend series with Central Arizona at 2:00 pm.