Glendale college women's basketball secures outright conference title

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Glendale Community College’s Gloria Bianchi drives in the center of the lane to shoot against Victor Valley College’s Heavens Bonner and Cierra Steemer in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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The Glendale Community College women’s basketball team after defeating Victor Valley College and winning the conference title in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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With the game winding down, Glendale Community College’s Tess Oakley-Stinson bites the towel on her head in anticipation of a win against Victor Valley College in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s head coach Joel Weiss embraces Angel Castro after defeating Victor Valley College in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s Sylvia Vartazarian grabs a rebound over Victor Valley College’s Destiny Marin in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s head coach Joel Weiss calls in a play during the game against Victor Valley in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Cheyenne Jankulovski leans in on Victor Valley’s Amber Evans as she drives into the lane in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s Haley Wilson grabs a rebound against Victor Valley College’s Heavens Bonner in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Gloria Bianchi passes against Victor Valley in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Tess Oakley-Stilson pulls up to shoot against Victor Valley’s Heavens Bonner in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s Sylvia Vartazarian battles inside for a shot against Victor Valley College in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Melissa Sandoval hangs in the air shooting against Victor Valley in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Gloria Bianchi drives hard into the lane against Victor Valley’s Viviana Rojas in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Sylvia Vartazarian drives into the lane against Victor Valley’s Destiny Marin in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Marlene Salazar grabs an offensive rebound over the Victor Valley defense in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Cheyenne Jankulovski drives to shoot against Victor Valley’s Destiny Marin and Amber Evans in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Cheyenne Jankulovski drives, shoots, and is fouled by Victor Valley’s Cierra Steemer in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Gloria Bianchi drives to the basket as Victor Valley’s Megan Burt arrives to defend in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Tess Oakley-Stilson drives to the basket against Victor Valley’s Destiny Marin in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale College’s Sylvia Vartazarian goes up for a shot against Victor Valley’s Kendal Clark-Davis and Heavens Bonner in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s Haley Wilson drives and is fouled while shooting by Victor Valley College’s Kendal Clark-Davis in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s Sylvia Vartazarian leans back to shoot over Victor Valley College’s Destiny Marin in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale Community College’s head coach Joel Weiss as the sophomores on the team are recognized before the game against Victor Valley College in a Western State Conference East Division women’s basketball game at Glendale Community College on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. If records are correct, this is the first time GCC women has won the conference going the season 20-4 without a conference loss. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

By Vincent Nguyen

Feb. 19, 2019 9:55 PM PT

GLENDALE — It wasn’t too long ago the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team finished a season without a conference win.

Since the 2016-2017 season, the Vaqueros have gradually improved following their 0-14 conference finish a year earlier.

Fast-forward to Glendale college’s game against Victory Valley at home on Tuesday. The Vaqueros were one win away from tying their best conference finish since the 2002-2003 season and, most importantly, becoming the outright Western State Conference East champion.

Behind sophomores Sylvia Vartazarian and Cheyenne Jankulovski’s scoring efforts, Glendale defeated Victor Valley, 61-51, to claim the outright conference title for the first time this century.

“These girls, they earned it,” Glendale coach Joel Weiss said. “Credit to every single one; they absolutely earned it and you can see from the support we had here tonight how much people think of them and the way that they play.

“They’re fun. They’re inspiring. I catch myself sometimes watching film going, ‘man, they’re ballers, and they’re fun to watch.’ There’s a fan in me for this group and we’re just pleased. We’ll enjoy this tonight and start focusing on tomorrow.”

The Vaqueros (21-4, 9-0 in conference) already clinched at least a share of the conference title with 55-34 win Saturday versus Antelope Valley.

Vartazarian scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in what was a tough night to penetrate the paint and score from the free-throw line.

“I just think it was a good scoring day for me, honestly,” said Vartazarian, a Glendale High product. “I don’t think they were pressuring me as much as they were pressuring me last game, so it was a lot easier to score and I didn’t want to come out of this game with only eight points.”

Jankulovski added 16 points, as the two sophomores were the only Vaqueros to reach double-figure scoring.

“We just knew plays to run and we had to be more aggressive and come out a little harder,” said Jankulovski, who encountered foul trouble early in the second half. “We just pulled it together and came through.”

Vartazarian scored early with back-to-back put-back baskets and added a three-pointer to close the first quarter with seven points and give Glendale a 14-7 lead.

The Vaqueros had opportunities to extend their lead midway in the second quarter, but shots weren’t dropping until Jankulovski attacked the post and helped Glendale to a 31-20 halftime lead.

Despite poor shooting at the line in the third quarter, the Vaqueros were able to head go into the final frame with a 52-37 lead.

The Rams (10-15, 5-4) outscored the Vaqueros, 7-1, to start the final quarter and eventually pulled to within 55-46 before the Vaqueros regrouped.

Glendale finishes the season against two-time defending champion L.A. Valley on Friday before the Vaqueros expect to host their first playoff game on March 1. Glendale last appeared in the playoffs in 2003.

vincent.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @ReporterVince

Glendale college women’s basketball secures outright conference title