By John M. Sherrard
(VENTURA) An early-season match-up between the top team in the north versus the number one team in the south took place in the 19th Annual Ventura College Women's Basketball Tournament of Champions Saturday afternoon.
Sierra College defeated the defending CCCAA state champion Mounties, 68-60, in the semifinals of the Ventura tourney.
Freshman Jade Hughes came off the bench to lead the Mounties (5-1) with 12 points (6 of 11), scoring half of her six points in the second quarter. Hughes also brought down ten rebounds (6 offensive) in the game.
Sophomore guard Maddeline Dopplick added 11 points (2 assists, 2 steals, 3 rebounds), while sophomore guard Caira Benton (5 of 7) and sophomore Aliyah Dickson (4 of 7, 2-2 FT) had ten each.
Sierra (7-0), which fell one game short of the state final four last season, led by two points at the half, 29-27, and extended it to four after three quarters, 51-47.
The Mounties started the final quarter on a 6-2 run on two jump shots by Dickson and Dopplick along with a layup by sophomore forward Tshlene Bentley to tie the game, 53-53.
Later in the quarter, with the Mounties trailing 60-57, sophomore guard Amari Terry scored on a layup to bring to within one, 60-59, but that was the closest Mt. SAC would get as Sierra finished the game on an 8-1 run to win, 68-60.
Mt. SAC sophomore forward Kali Jones (3 of 7, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) and freshman guard Dominique McLaughlin (4 rebounds, 4 steals) contributed six and five points respectively.
Mounties will face the Long Beach City Vikings for 3rd place tomorrow at 2:00 pm.
Follow Mt. SAC Women's Basketball on twitter @MtSAC_WBKB
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.