Vaqs’ offense vanishes in double-digit defeat
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — In the first half of its game against visiting L.A. Pierce College on Tuesday night, the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team got it half right.
On the defensive side of the court, the Vaqueros couldn’t have done a much better job, limiting the Brahmas to just 28 points. Problem was, the Vaqueros essentially limited themselves to 21 points scored in a first half that featured more Glendale college turnovers (10) than field goals (eight).
Offensively, the Vaqueros never quite figured out a solution in the second half. Pierce College did, and ended up with a 71-53 nonconference win.
“Even though we were down by seven at halftime after missing so many easy shots, we held [the Brahmas] down [in the 20s] and they’re averaging 80 [points per game],” said Glendale college Coach Monica Hang, whose team fell to 10-7 on the year. “Our defense and our game plan executed, but our offense just couldn’t knock down the shots that we normally do.
“Second half we tried to focus more on knocking down shots and maintaining our defense, but with turnovers here and there and missing easy shots, it created easy baskets for Pierce.”
Glendale college got as close as 32-28 three minutes into the second half on a three-point play converted by sophomore center Paola Gupilan (11 points, five rebounds).
The Brahmas then went on a 12-2 run that put the Vaqueros behind, 44-30, when Monique Puentes hit a three pointer falling down while being fouled.
Gupilan connected on a reverse layup to get the Vaqueros back to within 11 at the 13:00 mark, but the Brahmas exploded on another 10-1 run that included eight fast-break points.
“When you turn the ball over and miss easy shots, fatigue sets in, because you sprint back and get stops,” Hang said. “That’s pretty much where the game took off.”
The Vaqueros were also hurt on the glass, getting out rebounded by the Brahmas, 56-30. Six foot 1 center Tiara Richardson alone finished with 30 boards.
“We were trying to create more spacing and take [Richardson] away from the paint and bring her outside and attack her,” Hang said, “but we just didn’t execute.”
Glendale college, which was led by a 19-point, seven-rebound, four-steal effort from Hoover High grad Rachel Estrella, next plays at Santa Ana College on Saturday before starting Western State Conference Southern Division play on Jan. 7 at West Los Angeles College.
GABRIEL RIZK covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3226 or at gabriel.rizk@latimes.com.