TORRANCE >> El Camino College head women’s basketball coach Steve Shaw’s frustration was indicative of how his team played in its South Coast Conference opener against top-ranked Mt. SAC on Wednesday, losing 76-46 and extending its losing streak to four.
The Mounties (17-1, 1-0) did most of their damage in the paint, racking up an 42-22 advantage. Jonnae Vermillion punished the smaller Warriors down low for 14 first-half points and helped Mt. SAC to a 38-23 halftime lead.
Megahan Peneueta finished the game with 17 points, nine rebounds and made two of the teams’ three 3-pointers. They shot 28 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range.
El Camino found itself down by as many as 12 points (32-20) with two minutes in the second quarter. Kyla Jolly, the team’s second-leading scorer, wasn’t in the starting lineup due to an illness.
She checked into the game midway through the first quarter and seemed a little lost in the shuffle, missing all six of her first-half shots. She finished with five points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Mt. SAC’s size was a problem for the smaller Warriors, especially the guards, who had difficulty pentrating not only because of the Mounties’ size but their constant ball pressure.
All three guards for El Camino committed two or more tunrovers.
“Against good teams you have to play solid basketball for 40 minutes,” Shaw said. “You can’t have long lapses where you’re not getting quality possessions on the offensive end.”
The Warriors had a stretch where they did not score for two minutes while the Mounties extended their lead to 54-28 late in the third quarter.
Mt. San Antonio shot 50 percent from the 3-point line and 51 percent from the field.
El Camino will visit L.A Trade Tech on Friday in another South Coast conference game. Tip off is at 5 p.m
Men’s basketball
MT. SAC 60, EL CAMINO 54 >> The SCC opener was tied at 54 late in the game when Mt. SAC’s Jamaal Logan sank two free throws, giving the Mounties (7-8, 1-0) the victory.
El Camino (1-13, 0-1) dropped its 10th game in a row.
Isiah Armstead led the Warriors with 13 points and five rebounds. Da’Koda Lacey added nine points.
Logan led Mt. San Antonio with 24 points.
The Warriors will travel to L.A Trade Tech on Friday. Tip off is at 7 p.m.
