Glendora, CA (Women’s Basketball) – Over the past two seasons, the Citrus College Lady Owls basketball team has had a thorn in its side in the form of the Canyons College basketball team. Canyons has won five of its past six contests with Citrus, and four in a row dating back to the 2004-2005 season. Mid-way through the second half, the Lady Owls thought they had finally broken through, but the Cougar’s fashioned a 26-6 run over eight of the final ten minutes of the game breaking Citrus’ back yet again as they lost 89-105 in their WSC South opener Wednesday night.
The Cougar’s came out the gate and gave Citrus all they could handle taking as much as a 13-point lead with just over four minutes to go in the first half. The Lady Owls would claw their way back after freshman guard Jessica Nieves stole the ball from Canyons’ Andrea Bobic, and then nailed a jumper in the lane in transition to pull Citrus to within 3-points with just 1:49 left to play in the half.
Canyons would answer by scoring six of the next eight points, but Nieves pulled Citrus right back in it as she connected on a 3-pointer with under 20 second to play, as the Lady Owls settled in for a four-point deficit at 42-46 when the half-time buzzer sounded.
In the second half, Citrus would build on the momentum started by Nieves, by taking the lead for the first time just four minutes into the second half. Jazmine Matthews’ back to back free-throws made the score 52-50, and giving Citrus their first lead in a game over Canyon’s in at least two years.
Citrus would give the lead back two minutes later, but the Lady Owls were able to grab the lead once again after Matthews swiped a steal and laid the ball up and in on a fast-break lay-up pushing the score to 63-61 with 13:04 on the clock. Over the next three minutes there would be three ties and three lead changes, with Canyons wrestling the lead back away from Citrus with ten minutes to play.
With the score tied at 71-71, Canyon’s Ivory Blockmon was fouled as she went up for a shot and sent to the charity strip for two shots. After Blockmon sank her first shot, the Owls’ bench was assessed a technical, giving Blockmon three more tries from the free-throw line. Blockmon made all three of her free-throws, and the Cougar’s went off on their 26-6 run to put the Lady Owls away for good.
The Lady Owls had five players score in double figures with freshman Jazmine Matthews leading the way with a career high 23 points and 8 assists. Forward Shateah West chipped in with 16 points and 13 boards, while center Caitlyn Hernandez filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
With the loss, the Lady Owls fall to 13-7 on the season and 0-1 in WSC South play. The Lady Owls will hit the road on Saturday for their first conference away game of the season. Citrus is set to play West LA College in Culver City at 5:30 PM.
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