Glendora, CA (Women’s Basketball) -- The Citrus College Women’s Basketball team went into Saturday’s important Western State Conference South match-up with LA Valley needing to win the percentage game. The Owls did that in the first half, but saw their field goal percentage dip 15 points in the second half, and LA Valley’s rise 24, in a 53-46 loss to the Monarchs.
Citrus took control of the first half from the tip, and let their defense funnel their offense, holding LA Valley to five of 24 shooting from the field (20.8%). The Owls scored the first four points of the game with a jumper from freshman Kenya Thomas and a pair of free-throws from sophomore Yvonne Sanchez all within the first minute and a half of the game.
After that came a dry spell offensively. The Owls scored just three points, a three ball from sophomore Julia Tani, over the next six minutes. Despite the inability to put the ball in the basket, Citrus continued to apply intense pressure to Valley defensively, and was able to keep their lead intact.
Another three by Tani and jumper from Thomas finally got the offense back going again. Citrus’ largest lead of the half would come at the end of the period when sophomore Brianna Barfield hit the front end of a pair of free-throws, to give Citrus a 28-19 lead at the break.
Valley would come out in the second half and embark on a 12-2 run that gave them their first lead of the night 31-30 with 14:05 left in the game. Citrus took the lead back moments later on a basket in the paint from sophomore Aysia Randall, but Valley responded with a fast break basket that gave them back the lead.
Once again Citrus responded with a lay-up from sophomore Jasmine Cox that put the Owls up 34-33 with 12:13 to go, but a Valley three pointer two minutes later gave the Monarchs the lead back, this time for good. Valley would push their lead to five points around the seven minute mark, and it stayed around there for the remainder of the contest, with Citrus eventually falling by seven.
In the loss, Citrus was led by Barfield’s team high 11 points and team high eight rebounds. Tani came off the bench and added 10 points and a team high four assists against zero turnovers.
With the loss, Citrus falls to 4-20 on the year and 4-5 in WSC South play. The Owls will be off on Wednesday before hitting the road to take on WSC leader Bakersfield College next Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5:00 PM.
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