By John M. Sherrard

(WALNUT) The 2015-16 CCCAA State Champion Mountie Women basketball team began defense of their title Friday night in the Linda G. Smith Memorial Tip-Off Classic with a resounding, 86-28, win over College of the Desert at the Mt. SAC gym.

The Mounties, who rallied from 19 points back to defeat East Los Angeles College in the state finals last season, now set their sights on an eighth title.

The long road began in the annual Tip-Off, 8-team classic which concludes on Sunday.

Leading the way for the Mounties was freshman guard Dominique McLaughlin with a game-high 14 points, followed by 12 points off the bench from freshman forward Jade Hughes.

Sophomore guard Caira Benton and freshman guard Kiara Stiger added nine points each, while two sophomores Allyah George and Maddeline Dopplick chipped in eight apiece.

The Mounties jumped out to 31-11 first-quarter lead and never looked back as they held Desert scoreless in the second quarter and outscored them, 40-17, in the second half for the first win of the season.

Mt. SAC, which opens the season ranked No. 1 in the South Region CCCWBCA Preseason poll, plays Saddleback College Saturday night in a semifinal game at 7 p.m.

The championship game of the Tip-Off Classic is Sunday at 3:15 p.m.

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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.