Sharp shooting lifts Glendale college women’s basketball over West L.A. for 21st consecutive victory
GLENDALE — Eight points separated the Glendale Community College and the West L.A. College women’s basketball teams after the first half of a Western State Conference East contest at home Saturday.
In their previous encounter, the Vaqueros scored the game-winner at the buzzer to come out victorious. But this time around, Glendale’s efficient shooting in the third quarter set up a double-digit lead at the end of the period, avoiding another nail-biter.
Glendale’s accurate shooting carried into the final quarter, paving the way to a 78-55 home victory against West L.A. that extend teh Vaqueros’ winning streak to 21 games.
“At halftime, as a group, we collectively talked about moving the ball a little quicker, having our feet ready to shoot and really trying to make the extra pass,” said Glendale coach Joel Weiss, whose Vaqueros shot eight for 14 in the third quarter to take a 58-42 lead at the end of the frame.
“I thought the quality of our looks were better in that third quarter. Also, when you play good defense, sometimes you end up making more shots. We held them to 13 in the third and 13 in the fourth and that’s a pretty good clip overall.”
Four Vaqueros finished in double-digits in scoring, led by sophomores Zoe Rouse and La Cañada grad Tess Oakley-Stilson with 20 points apiece.
Rouse scored 16 points in the first half and knocked down four three-pointers in the contest. The sophomore also recorded five assists.
“I think we were just making the extra pass and finding everybody and everyone had their own little run,” said Rouse, who helped Glendale (21-1, 8-0 in conference) maintain its unbeaten home record with an 11-0 mark. “It helped us a lot.
“Coach drilled it into us that we should come out and remember how they played us last game. They’re going to come and give it their all because they were up the entire time last time and we took it from them right at the end. We knew they were going to come out and want to play us.”
Oakley-Stilson scored 12 second-half points and grabbed six rebounds — three on the offensive end. Glendale sophomore Penelopi Trieu chipped in with 15 points and eight assists on four-of-eight three-point shooting and freshman Jada Aldana added 13 points and nine rebounds.
“Everyone knows where their shot is and everyone’s looking for them to take it,” Trieu said. “As of late, I think we have not been as good as we used to be swinging the ball and facilitating for each other, but I think that’s something we’re starting to get back again. I think it’s a little bit of a frustration with the way we’ve been playing, and I think we’re working through it.”
The Wildcats were led by freshman Kynsli Schwenki with 22 points. Sophomore Tricia Delph contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds.
The third quarter began with a three-pointer from Trieu for a 40-29 lead, but the Wildcats (7-15, 1-7) outscored the Vaqueros, 10-4, over the course of the next three minutes to make it a six-point game.
A pair of threes from Aldana and one from Trieu lifted the Vaqueros to a 53-40 lead at 3:13 of the third, before Oakley-Stilson scored the final five points of the quarter to stake Glendale to a 16-point advantage.
The Vaqueros started the fourth quarter going three-for-three from three-point range to extend the lead to 69-47 with 7:06 left.
“I think when you move the ball that effectively, you end up taking the right shots,” Weiss said. “And when you take the right shots, numbers like these present themselves.”
Glendale took an early lead. Trieu scored the first five points for the Vaqueros for a 5-2 lead to start the game.
After four lead changes, three-pointers from Oakley-Stilson and Rouse put Glendale u, 13-8, with 4:02 left in the first.
Baskets from Rouse and Trieu helped Glendale close out the quarter on a 10-2 run for a 17-10 lead.
Rouse’s third three-pointer of the game gave Glendale a 28-20 lead before Oakley-Stilson drove to the basket to establish a 10-point cushion that the Vaqueros held on to the rest of the second quarter.
Rouse scored nine points in the second quarter to help the Vaqueros to a 37-29 halftime advantage.
