For the first time since Jan. 15, 1997, the Long Beach City College women's basketball team defeated Pasadena City College, winning the South Coast Conference opener for both teams, 54-51, at PCC's Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium Wednesday night.

The Vikings (9-1 overall, 1-0 SCC) snapped a 19-game winning streak by the Lancers against LBCC, all under PCC Head Coach Joe Peron. Peron was in his first season as coach when the Lancers last lost a game to Long Beach in the 1996-97 season.

Pasadena dropped to 2-5 overall despite 15 points, 12 rebounds and four steals by center Tonisha Lacey. The Lancers nearly sent the game into overtime but Vera Machado's 3-point try rang in-and-out with eight seconds left. Machado had 12 points.

Long Beach, now ranked No. 11 in this week's state poll, was paced by 15 points from Keshonda Moore and 11 points by Luna Amico. The Vikings made 11 of 14 from the line, and hit four 3-pointers out of their seven total baskets in the second half. PCC shot 9-for-21 from the line and made 29 turnovers.

Tied at 28-28, LBCC took the lead for good at 35-34 with 16:23 left on a pair of free throws by Amico. Tamica Cheatham's baseline jumper made it 54-46 as the Vikings won despite not scoring over the last 6 minutes of the game.

Long Beach returns to action on Friday (Dec. 9) when it hosts East Los Angeles College in a 6 pm South Coast Conference game.

Photo: LBCC and Pasadena battle for a rebound in the Vikings' 54-51 win. Photo by Richard Quinton