Vaqueros start fast in third straight win, 68-52

SBCC jumped ahead 11-0 and 17-2 on Wednesday night en route to a 68-52 women's basketball victory over Oxnard at the Sports Pavilion.

Andrea Morales finally got the first double-double of her career (18 points, 10 rebounds) exactly one week after her twin sister, Darla Morales, achieved the feat. Andrea has five games with nine rebounds this season and three others with eight.

Sylvia Hoover-Purter scored 12 points, including her team's last nine, while Darla Morales tallied eight points to go along with a career-high 12 rebounds on Coaches vs. Cancer Night.

The Condors got within six (56-50) on a layup by Simone Tobin with 8:08 to play. But SBCC hit 10-16 free throws in the last nine minutes, including 6-10 by Purter. Santa Barbara had only one field goal in the final 9:30 and it sealed the deal as Purter nailed a 3-pointer to stretch a nine-point lead to 12 (64-52) with 1:35 to go.

"Everyone played together and we actually played as a team," said Purter, a former Santa Barbara High standout. "We were attacking and dishing. When we do that, we do really well. To come strong with three straight wins is a great thing."

Oxnard went nearly six minutes without a point before Tabitha Cunanan scored on a follow shot to make it 11-2 with 14:10 to go. The Condors cut it to three at 17-11, then the Vaqueros went on a 10-2 run to boost the margin back to 14 at 27-13.

Alyssa Cosio added 11 points for SBCC, Victoria Jackson had nine points and six assists and Mizhrua Bautista grabbed seven rebounds as the Vaqueros opened the second round of conference play with their third straight win. SBCC improved to 8-14 overall and 3-4 in the WSC North. Oxnard fell to 2-16 and 2-6.

"We were running the ball just like coach said and we were hitting our runners," said Bautista, a 5-2 sophomore from  East L.A. "We had good synergy and when that happens, we're going to succeed. Our defense was on point and everyone was on the same page and connected."

Stella Dulay scored all 10 of her points in the first half and Andrea Morales also had 10 as the Vaqueros took a 37-28 lead at halftime.

 SBCC outrebounded the visitors 49-25. They had 18 offensive boards with Darla Morales grabbing five, Andrea Morales four and Bautista three.

"It was all about sustaining," said Vaquero coach Sandrine Krul. "Sustaining the offense, sustaining the defense. Even though we went on a scoring drought, they weren't scoring either.

"It's the second round and the kids are having fun. Winning breeds happiness and you start playing harder."

The Vaqueros travel to Moorpark for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.