San Antonio College’s women’s basketball team failed to advance to the Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference championship game for the first time in four years Saturday, falling to the Northwest Vista College Wildcats 80-52 in the semifinal round of the playoff tournament at Northeast Lakeview College.
Northwest Vista exacted revenge after SAC’s 2-0 sweep of the Wildcats in regular-season play. But this is the second straight year the Wildcats have knocked the Armadillos out of the postseason. The SAC women suffered a devastating 75-74 loss to Northwest Vista in last year’s championship game.
The loss brings the Armadillos’ record for the 2025-26 season to 10-4 overall. The SAC women looked strong all year, losing just two of 12 games until their final regular-season game, which Head Coach Abel Castillo forfeited in the wake of Armadillo players missing practices.
While SAC’s 10-3 finish in the regular season was enough to earn them the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, the low note of the forfeiture and manpower struggles seemed to take a toll on the Armadillos.
“We were really working with three to four people the last four weeks,” Castillo said. “I don’t like playing in those circumstances.”
Before the game, Coach Castillo questioned the commitment of his team before the playoffs.
“The other girls don’t want to play. They don’t practice. Why should we go play?” Castillo said.
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Coach Abel Castillo talks with the team during a time out at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Shooting guard Kaleah Muniz looks for an opening against the NLC offense at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday, April 11.
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Shooting guard Kaleah Muniz makes space for an opening against NLV offense at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Point guard Avah Castillo backs up to set a three against NLV offense at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Shooting guard Kaleah Muniz takes a shot during the game against NLV at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Small forward Nevaeh Sosa draws a block and runs towards the paint at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Small forward Kayli “Angel” Carrisalez executes a fake out against NLV offense at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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Coach Abel Castillo watches as the women’s team take a water break during a time out at the Llano Wellness Center, Saturday April 11.
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The Wildcats started the game on a 6-0 run and went up 21-14 in the first quarter. Northwest Vista’s lead only grew from there, and the the Armadillos trailed 47-26 at the half.
Small Forward Nevaeh Sosa scored 11 points in the first half, and SAC Guard Angel Carrisalez led SAC’s offense with 23 points, hitting four 3-point shots from beyond the arc.
Northwest Vista never trailed during the game and outscored SAC 33-26 in the second half.
“They were quicker than us … they were moving more than we did on offense,” Coach Castillo said.
The playoff loss makes Castillo 3-3 against the Wildcats during his tenure as head coach.
SAC Point Guard Avah Castillo, who added nine points from range, said her team never really recovered after losing several players, including her sister, Guard Alexis Castillo, who suffered a season-ending injury in March.
“We had a great regular season, but we were off almost a month from the last time we played,” Avah said. “Not coming to practice hurt us.”
Avah is the only SAC player returning for next year’s squad. Her sister, Alexis, and Carrisalez intend to play for Texas A&M San Antonio next season. Avah said she will work to improve her game for next season.
“Just be more aggressive, use my moves, and be more confident,” she said.
The No. 3 Wildcats fell short in the championship as the top-seeded Palo Alto College Palominos took home the trophy with a 68-60 victory at Northeast Lakeview College’s Llano Wellness Center Sunday.