Vaqueros Open ECC Christmas Crossover With Win Over Santa Ana

TORRANCE, Calif. – The El Camino College Christmas Crossover gave the Santa Barbara City College women's basketball team a tough matchup in its first game of the tournament. The Vaqueros responded as a group to earn a 69-58 victory over the Santa Ana College Dons. 

"This win is by committee," said head coach Sandrine Krul. "We had players understanding the game plan, getting the ball inside, and Isis Poteet had a really all-around good game."

After the first quarter, the Dons held a 22-18 lead as Santa Barbara tried to slow down Larissa Robles. The Santa Ana guard had 12 points, three assists and two steals in the opening frame.

The second quarter was where the Vaqueros made a statement on the boards, outrebounding Santa Ana 21-8 and entering the half trailing 36-34.

The Vaqueros used 10 players in the third quarter, as they opened the second half with a 10-0 run. 

"We were shuffling players in, and in[...] the third quarter, we just came out ready to go, creating turnovers and scoring off those turnovers," said Krul. "Everyone [was] doing their job when we needed it. Sierra Jewell had two massive important rebounds to get us running our game in the third. Aariah Fox came with really good key buckets in the third."

Lilly Losak also added crucial rebounding down the stretch.

After the third quarter, Santa Barbara held a 58-43 lead. 

The entire roster had playing time in the fourth quarter as the Vaqueros sealed their first win of the ECC Christmas Crossover. 

Poteet earned her fourth consecutive double-double, recording 26 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. 

The Vaqueros are back in action at 4 p.m. on Dec. 17 against Riverside.