San Marcos, Calif. – The Mt. SAC Women's Basketball team wasted no time picking up where they left off, opening the new year with a 78-58 road win over Palomar College on Saturday, January 3. Fresh off a dominant showing at the Moorpark College Tournament before the holidays, highlighted by decisive wins over Chabot and San Joaquin Delta, the Mounties improve to an impressive 16-1 on the season.

Mt. SAC's only low of the season so far came in a narrow one-point loss to San Joaquin Delta in early December, making their recent blowout win over the Mustangs an emphatic statement as conference play approaches at the end of the month.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The opening quarter was a little up and down as both teams exchanged baskets and leads throughout. Elizabeth Udeze and Taliyah McFerson got Mt. SAC started with back-to-back layups, but Palomar answered with consecutive three-pointers from Ivorii Seals and Kami Gillis to briefly take the lead. The Mounties stayed the course, as a late push capped by a pair of free throws and  jump shot from Leiayjah Mills helped knot the score at 15-15 after one.

Momentum shifted firmly in the second quarter as Mt. SAC got their heads in the game on both ends of the floor. Tierra Taylor sparked the surge with her first basket of the night, followed by a three from Dylan Tse. Armani Owens and Naomi Acuna added timely buckets, and the Mounties overwhelmed the Comets with a 28-12 scoring advantage in the period to carry a 43-27 lead into halftime.

The Mounties kept control coming out of the break. Tse poured in seven points during the third quarter, while Owens anchored the defense on the glass. Palomar managed 16 points behind six from Gillis, but Mt. SAC maintained its cushion heading into the final period, leading 61-43.

Taylor put the finishing touches on the win in the fourth, scoring 10 points—including a pair of three-pointers—to shut the door. Luciana Aguilar led Palomar with seven points, but the Mounties remained steady and closed out the 20-point victory, 78-58.

KEY PLAYERS:

• Tierra Taylor: Game-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals
• Dylan Tse: 18 points, 4 rebounds
• Taliyah McFerson: 13 points, 11 rebounds
• Ivorii Seals (Palomar): Team-high 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
• Luciana Aguilar (Palomar): 12 points, 6 rebounds 1 assist

NEXT UP:

The Mounties will travel to face the El Camino Warriors (1-13) on Friday, January 9, at 7:00 PM. Keep it up, ladies!

STAY CONNECTED:

Follow Mt. SAC Women's Basketball on Twitter @MtSAC_WBKB or Instagram /mt.sacwbk/

Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics

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