Walnut, Calif. – In their opening games of the 2024-2025 season, the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball Team competed in the Mt. SAC Tip-Off Tournament from November 1-3, held in the home gymnasium. With high expectations surrounding the No. 4 ranked Mounties, fans were eager to see how the team would perform against tough early-season competition. The Mounties not only lived up to the hype—they exceeded it.
In their season opener, the Mounties faced off against Antelope Valley College on Friday, November 1, and secured a solid 62-47 victory. Taliyah McFerson led the way with 15 points, shooting 6 of 10 from the field and converting 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Mounties shot 33.3% from the field and 50% from the charity stripe while dominating on the boards, pulling down 61 rebounds compared to Antelope Valley's 40.
The following day, the Mounties battled No. 3 ranked Moorpark College in a tightly contested matchup. The Mounties emerged victorious with a 71-64 win. Elizabeth Udeze, coming off the bench, led the team with 18 points, making 7 field goals and hitting all four of her free-throw attempts. McFerson added 13 points, and Daisia Mitchell contributed 12 points. The Mounties improved their shooting in this game, finishing with 43.1% from the field and an impressive 82.6% from the free-throw line. The team controlled the glass with 41 rebounds while forcing 19 turnovers.
The final game of the weekend brought the most anticipated matchup of the tournament, as the Mounties squared off against the top-ranked College of the Sequoias (COS). It was a nail-biting back-and-forth contest, with the lead changing hands multiple times. While Jocelyn Medina of COS led all scorers with 17 points, the Mounties countered with a balanced offensive attack. Alana Diaz and Mitchell each finished with 16 points, with Diaz adding a game-high 13 rebounds. As a team, the Mounties shot 44.1% from the field and 37.5% from the three-point range. Despite 29 turnovers, the Mounties continued to fight hard and ultimately came up just one point short in a tough 69-68 loss.
Head Coach Brian Crichlow was pleased with the team's overall performance, saying, "You can only simulate game situations so much in practice, so it was great to see how the team responded to such tough competition. I think we grew up a lot this weekend and overall, I'm happy with the outcome. We had 29 turnovers on Sunday, so that is something we'll need to work out, but we're off to a strong start, and I'm excited about the rest of the season."
The Mounties will look to build on their momentum as they prepare for another challenging matchup against No. 2 ranked Orange Coast College at home on Wednesday, November 13, at 6:00 PM.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
