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Last season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Pima College’s powerhouse women’s basketball program.

The Aztecs made it to the playoffs, where they eventually fell 76-61 to Mesa Community College in the regional final. Along the way, they found a new star: Jacqulynn Nakai. Like Sydni Stallworth the year before, Nakai put the team on her back.

“For her to come on as a freshman and have the year that she had, and we had some auxiliary parts that did a great job — so we probably overachieved in a lot of ways,� coach Todd Holthaus said.

Nakai averaged 17.3 points, 6.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game as a freshman, earning WBCA Two-Year College Coaches’ All-American honorable mention honors. The Flagstaff Coconino High School grad was also dubbed ACCAC Division II Player of the Year, following in Stallworth’s footsteps. Nakai earned first-team All-Region I, Division II awards; she was named the Division II Player of the Week four times during the season.

“I didn’t even know there was that many things you could get,� Nakai said. “All I knew is that I wanted to improve each game and I guess how I was able to get those awards was from me having that kind of mindset and mentality to get better each game.�

Throughout the offseason, Nakai found another way to continue getting better. Working with new strength and conditioning coach Carla Garrett, Nakai has shed 15 pounds and improved her speed.

“I thought that was one of the main things I could work on this year,� Nakai said.

Holthaus said Garrett’s addition gives program some much-needed toughness. Garrett won the 1989 NCAA shot put and discus championships at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ before becoming a strength coach. She worked at both the UA and at New Mexico, and with Mike Candrea’s Olympic softball team and Salpointe Catholic’s football team.

“It’s been great,� returner Shauna Bribiescas said.

The Aztecs have another key addition this year in transfer Brianna Pitre.

Pitre, a former Sabino High School standout, spent two seasons at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She returned home because she trusted Holthaus, whom she’s known for years.

“I wanted to try to get to another D-I (program) and I knew coach Todd was the perfect, I guess you could say, gateway for that,� Pitre said.

Holhaus is hoping to take advantage of Pitre’s athleticism. Coupled with Nakai return and Garrett’s plan, the Aztecs are prepared for an even deeper playoff run this season.

“I think anytime you end before you really want to, it allows you to focus a little bit more for the upcoming year and I think the girls, they got a little taste of it,� Holthaus said. “Coming up short, the sophomores always bring that little bit of hunger back to practice. Hopefully it carries down onto the freshmen and they adjust and understand what they’re getting themselves into.�