Ariel Perez and the Bishop Diego girls basketball team used a strong third quarter to separate from Santa Paula in a 59-39 Frontier League victory on Tuesday night.
Perez scored all of her six points at the start of the period in which the Cardinals outscored their opponent 16-7 to open up a 14-point lead by the beginning of the final quarter.
“We came out well in the third quarter, that was the difference,” said Cardinals head coach Jeff Burich.
Junior center Janelle Kohler had a team-high 14 points on 7-for-9 shooting to go along with nine rebounds. Jennifer Jimenez scored 11 and added seven steals. Heather Aijian reached double figures with 10 points.
Burich loved what he got from sophomores Allison Breuer, Kelsey Stimson and Courtney Houston, saying it was the best game the trio has played this season.
With the victory, the Cardinals improve to 14-8 on the season and are 5-2 in league with three to play. First up is a road game at Grace Brethren on Thursday.
BISHOP DIEGO 59, SANTA PAULA 39
SANTA CLARA – Zizumbo 12, Delgadillo 13, Mancilla 4, Ramon 4, Mendez 6. Totals – 15, 4-5, 39.
BISHOP DIEGO – Breuer 7, Houston 2, Perez 6, Aijian 10, Kohler 14, Stimson 4, Spence 6, Jimenez 11. Totals – 25, 6-14, 59.
Santa Clara 6 13 7 13 – 39
Bishop Diego 12 12 16 19 – 59
3-Pointers – SC 5 (Zizumbo 2, Mendez 2, Delgadillo), BD 3 (Aijian 2, Jimenez). Total fouls – SC 15, BD 13.
