Parkhurst nets season-best 24 as comeback falls short, 74-69

After a forgettable first half on Friday, SBCC stormed back to trim a 20-point deficit to five early in the fourth quarter against Santa Ana at the Hancock Tournament. The Dons held off the Vaqueros to post a 74-69 victory.

Santa Barbara trailed 25-14 after one quarter and 44-27 at halftime, making just 12-of-38 from the field (31.6%). The lead grew to 20 points several times in the third quarter. The Vaqueros (6-3) got back in it with an 11-0 run that cut the deficit to nine points (51-42).

It got down to five (62-57) when Jada Forsdick-Stevenson made a layup with 8:02 to play but the Vaqueros could get no closer.

Jordan Parkhurst tallied 21 of her season-high 24 points in the second half by shooting a sizzling 61.5% (8-13) and hitting 3-7 on 3-pointers. For the game, she was 9-19 from the field and 4-10 on triples. The freshman guard from Dana Point also had five rebounds and six assists.

Alondra Jimenez added 20 points and seven assists. Sophia Torres, the Vaqueros' top scorer and rebounder, picked up her fourth foul in the first minute of the third quarter and finished with six points and seven rebounds.

Sierra Cavaletto grabbed 10 rebounds (six offensive) and four steals in 22 minutes off the bench.

Brianna Aluva topped the Dons (4-4) with 21 points, six rebounds and five steals.

"We cannot come out not ready to play," said SBCC coach Sandrine Krul. "We pressed (full-court press) the entire second and third quarters. If basketball was 10 minutes, we would have had the W.

"I'm very proud of the way we stepped up and competed after falling behind."

The Dons outshot the Vaqueros 45.9 to 38.0 percent and outrebounded them 46-41. Both teams struggled from the free-throw line with the Vaqueros making 10-of-23 and the Dons 6-15.

One day after shooting 1-12 from the 3-point line, SBCC knocked down 9-23 on Friday.

The Vaqueros will finish up in the Hancock Tournament vs. Orange Coast on Saturday at 1 p.m.