YUMA, Ariz. – The No. 13 ranked Arizona Western Matadors (18-3, 10-2) erased an eight-point deficit with less than two minutes remaining to beat the No. 18 ranked Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters (18-6, 9-4) 51-50 on Saturday afternoon in Thatcher, Ariz., at Guitteau Gymnasium.

Mabel Doumbia led all scorers with 19 points and Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe had 13 points and eight rebounds in the win.

After the Matadors fell behind 12-6 in the first quarter, Arizona Western used a 12-0 run to close the first quarter, taking an 18-12 lead into the second quarter. The Matadors scored the first two points of the second quarter on a pair of Doumbia free throws to cap the run at 14-0 and push the lead to 18-12. The Gila Monsters used a run to tie the game at 24-24 before Jordan Labrador-Hallett buried a corner three to put the Matadors up 27-24 and the Matadors went into the halftime break leading 32-31.

The Matadors struggled offensively in the third quarter as the Gila Monsters held the Matadors to just five points in the quarter, taking a 41-37 lead into the fourth quarter. The Matadors went on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 43-42 four minutes into the fourth quarter. Eastern Arizona built a 50-42 lead with under two minutes to play before the Matadors scored nine unanswered points in the final 67 seconds of the game. Rita Gomes hit back-to-back threes before the Matadors forced a turnover which led to one made free throw from Doumbia. After forcing another turnover with 10 seconds remaining, Dyvine Harris was fouled and made both free throws to give the Matadors a 51-50 lead.

Gomes added nine points in the win as the Matadors forced 17 Eastern Arizona turnovers in the win. With the win, Arizona Western swept the regular season series between the two sides and the Matadors currently sit in sole possession of first place in the ACCAC.