Glendale college women’s hoops falls in Vaquero Shootout opener

An excellent first quarter sparked by hot shooting couldn’t be sustained by the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team in its tournament opener.

The Vaqueros, led by an unconscious shooting display from freshman guard Katia Dabbaghian, looked poised to pull out of a victory, but they would soon succumb to opponent College of the Desert’s defensive adjustment, particularly on the Providence alumna.

The strategy worked wonders, but to Glendale’s disfavor, as Dabbaghian was held to one point after a 16-point first half on seven-for-seven shooting.

As a team, Glendale struggled along, eventually dropping the Vaquero Shootout opener, 71-54.

For Carrie Miller’s young squad, it’s an early season trend it is trying to break.

“That’s been the struggle so far,” said Miller, whose team dropped to 1-3. “We come out ready in the first quarter and, as the other team makes a run, we falter.”

Dabbaghian finished the game with a team-high 17 points, including two from behind the arc. She scored 16 of the team’s first 18 points, but was held in check thereafter. Still, the Vaqueros kept it close until College of the Desert created separation in the fourth en route to the victory.

“We went from a 2-3 zone to man-on-man and put Kelcey Beckham on [Dabbaghian],” College of the Desert Coach Skip Parry said.

The Roadrunners received 16 points apiece from Beckham and Ashley Priest, who caused fits inside for the smaller Vaqueros.

“I actually think it was better for us,” said Miller when asked about the College of the Desert’s adjustment. “It opened us up.

“We have 15 players who know how to play well. We can’t expect one player to carry us.”

Glendale held momentum and dictated the pace of the game for much of the first half, leading by double-digits midway through the first.

The Roadrunners used their defense to claw back, tying the game at 29 with 2:28 to play in the second.

Glendale would answer on Luna Panosian’s inbound steal and three-point play to assure the Vaqueros taking the lead into halftime.

Panosian finished the game with 10 points on seven-of-nine shooting from the charity stripe.

The teams played to three ties in the third before College of the Desert went on a 9-2 to run to gain its biggest lead of the game and close out the third with a 50-43 advantage.

Glendale mustered four field goals in the fourth as the Roadrunners didn’t let their lead dwindle down to one possession and instead cruised to the victory.

The Vaqueros were outscored by 22 points in the second half.

“They had all the momentum,” said Miller, whose team shot 43% from the field for the game. “They were feeling it, had energy and were believing. We struggle playing through it and it’s a confidence thing right now.”

Glendale will look to turn it around as it plays in the consolation semifinals versus Santa Barbara Friday at 3 p.m.

“Once we get going, we’ll be OK,” Miller said. “We’ll get better. It’s about playing through adversity and not getting affected when we get down.”