Saddleback’s comeback attempt falls short
Saddleback women’s basketball fell short in a 59-57 loss to Cypress College on Friday.
The Gauchos struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, missing several passes and simple lay ups, while the Chargers moved the ball well, setting screen plays and taking advantage of their lethargic opponents.
“We underestimated them and played really lethargic most the game and it cost us,” said coach Fentriss Winn. “In this league you have to play hard every, every game, every second, you can’t take anyone lightly or you’ll get beat.”
The first half ended with the Gauchos in a 38-20 hole.
Saddleback showed signs of life at the beginning of the second half, scoring 10 unanswered points to cut the deficit to eight. But as the offense pushed harder, the defense began to struggle and the Chargers were back to controlling the game.
“We didn’t play well at all today, we played an inferior team and just didn’t come ready to play,” Winn said.
Unable to take advantage of the majority of rebounds, the Gauchos were depending on constant pressure to get their opponents missing, but giving their opponent at times four or five shots in the same position was not making the defenses job any easier.
Saddleback would not give up though, and with two key three-point shots from sophomore guard Kelsey Paopao, along with the consistent blocking of sophomore center Rekeshia Jones, the Gauchos were able to bring it back to a one point game.
Jones finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks.In the end, it was too little too late as the Gauchos fell, 59-57, to drop their record to 8-14 (1-3).
Freshman guard Justine Chacon had 18 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Cassie Klockgether pitched in 16 points.
Saddleback will try to get back to its winning ways when it travels to Golden West on Jan. 23 for a 7:30 p.m. start.