Freshman forward Sara Crane scored 15 points with 12 rebounds on Saturday and Mercedes Gonzalez grabbed a career-high 17 boards to guide SBCC past Hancock 71-51 in a WSC North women’s basketball game at Santa Maria.
Crane hit 7-10 from the field and was one of three Vaqueros in double-figure rebounds. Santa Barbara won the board battle 52-32 with Gonzalez collecting 17, Crane 12 and Keia Nobles 11.
Jennifer Jimenez scored 15 points while Nobles had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Leslie Steele also scored 11. Gonzalez had four of her team’s 19 steals.
The Vaqueros (8-10, 2-1) started the first half on a 10-0 run on the way to a 38-25 halftime lead. They opened the second half on a 12-0 streak, stretching the margin to 25 points at 50-25.
Santa Barbara had a great free-throw night, making 18 of 24. Camille Zumbro, the WSC’s top scorer, led Hancock with 26 points.
“We held them to 51 and we really worked our defensive strategy and our transition game,” said coach Sandrine Krul. “We started the second half on a 12-0 run with JJ (Jimenez), Crane and Steele leading the way.”
The Vaqueros play the next two at home vs. Moorpark on Wednesday and Cuesta on Saturday. Both tip-off at 5 p.m.
