SBCC nearly erased a 16-point deficit in the second half on Friday but couldn’t get over the hump in a 66-56 women’s basketball loss to No. 12 Cuesta in the semifinals of the Hancock Bulldog Classic.
Cuesta (10-0) is the only unbeaten team in Southern California and ranks No. 2 in state scoring at 86.1 per game. The Vaqueros held the Cougars to their second-lowest total of the year.
Jasmine Mata scored nine of her team-high 11 points in the second half for the Vaqueros (5-4), who were outshot 40 to 31 percent.
Mhiah Vickers had 10 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Elia Salazar had 12 points and 10 boards while Darla Morales added nine points and five rebounds.
Santa Barbara (5-4) trailed 33-24 at halftime and 44-28 with 16:01 to play. The Vaqueros went on a 16-2 run, capped by two free throws from Darla Morales, to pull within two (46-44) with 9:13 remaining.
“We cut a 16-point lead down to two, then we reverted to our young ways,” said coach Sandrine Krul. “We didn’t box out on a rebound and they got a basket. Then we turn it over, leading to another basket and we’re down six points. It’s frustrating.”
Cuesta regained control with a 12-2 run to make it 60-48. Courtney Chadwick led five Cougars in double figures with 16 points and hit 3-6 from 3-point range.
The Vaqueros will take on another WSC North rival, Hancock, in the third-place game on Saturday at 3 p.m. Barstow overcame a 22-point second-half deficit to beat Hancock 64-60 on Friday night.
