(Walnut, CA) Led by a pair of sophomores, Tianna Burrell and Jade Hughes, the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball Team opened the 2018-19 season with a 62-54 victory over College of the Canyons in the Linda G. Smith Memorial Tip-Off Classic Friday night November 2.
Burrell (4 RB, 4 Steals) and Hughes (4 RB, 4 Stls.) scored 13 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Mounties into the semifinals of the opening tourney of the season against Saddleback Saturday November 3.
Trailing by four points at the half, 35-31, Mt. SAC outscored Canyons, 18-10 in the third quarter and never trailed again.
With a 49-45 lead to begin the final quarter, the Mounties went on an 11-1 run to extend the lead by 10 points, 60-50 with 3:18 remaining in the game.
With balanced scoring in the run by four players and a 3-point basket by Burrell, the Mounties pulled away from the Cougars and cruised to the win.
Three players – Lauryn Manns (4-8 FGM, 3 A), Natalia Shpegel (3-6 FGM, 5 RB, 3 Stls.) and Aujanae Mayes (6 RB, 5 Stls, 3 Blks.) – scored nine points each while guard Tiana Douglas (7 Pts) grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds to lead the Mounties. Forward Kiara Stiger added 10 rebounds (4 ORB, 6 DRB).
Other scores from the eight-team tourney: Rio Hondo 72 over West L.A. 66, Citrus 72 over San Bernardino Valley 64 and Saddleback 58 over Long Beach City 50.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.