(Walnut, CA) With the longest winning streak in six years, the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball team ended the regular season with a 59-53 win over visiting East Los Angeles College Friday (Feb. 18) to win the South Coast Conference North.
The Mounties finished the conference with a perfect 8-0 record and improved to a fourth-best in the state with 23 wins against only three losses.
Mt. SAC has nearly gone three months without a loss and is currently ranked No. 2 in the state (CCCSIA) and So Cal.
"It's just a grind, just a grind," said Mt. SAC Women's Coach Brian Crichlow, of the long season. "Possession by possession, and we didn't shoot the ball well and weren't even getting shots up and weren't playing aggressively in the first half and most of the third quarter.
"Once we started attacking the basket and started doing some things we worked on (with) our defense. Our defense is always going to be what it needs to be."
An emotional moment for Crichlow and the fans in attendance prior to the game on sophomore night.
After the four current sophomores were honored, there was a special tribute to Kyah Fizer, who died in 2020 and was a member of the Elite Eight team that advanced to the state championships.
Fizer's No. 31 jersey was retired and will hang next to the Elite Eight banner.
"I just wanted to take care of business (Friday) in Ky's honor," Crichlow said. "It was a great moment and I was choked up and it was a beautiful moment and we got the opportunity to pay tribute to her.
"She was a piece of our puzzle two years ago and to have her family here was a great thing."
The Mounties now await the post-season, which begins next week, with the seeding to be determined on Feb. 27 or 28, followed by the announcement on the CCCAA website.
In the win over ELAC, Mt. SAC was led by freshman guard Kamesha Moore (4-7 FGM-A, 1-1 3PM-A, 10-12 FTM-A, 5 RB, 4 A, 1 Stl.) with a game-high 19 points.
"Kamesha came through in the second half," Crichlow added. She scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half.
Sophomores Mina Guevara-Goss (3-7 FGM-A, 3-3 FTM-A5 RB) and Allyah Cartajena (3-6 FGM-A, 3-4 FTM-A, 3 Stls, 1 Blk.) each scored nine points.
Cartajena led all players with 13 rebounds. As a team, the Mounties (48 rebounds) nearly doubled the output by the Huskies (26).
The Mounties trailed by two, 27-25, at the half, but came back with a big fourth quarter (19 points) to win down the stretch.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
