Vaqueros tumble in conference opener
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — In its Western State Conference opener Wednesday night, the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team bottomed out.
For the Vaqueros, it wasn’t the kind of start they had in mind. It translated into a season-low in points and kept them winless.
Glendale didn’t score until nearly halfway through the first half and suffered a 67-22 loss against visiting L.A. Valley College.
“It was just hard to get going,” said Glendale college first-year Coach Carrie Miller, whose team trailed, 26-4, at halftime. “The biggest thing in the first half was that we played good defense, but we couldn’t do much offensively.
“In the first two minutes, had we scored, I think it would have built our confidence.”
With former Glendale college Coach Monica Hang now holding the same title at Valley, the Monarchs had no trouble clicking on offense and defense. The Monarchs (10-8) raced to a 15-0 lead before the Vaqueros (0-13) got on the board when freshman guard Michelle Eclar scored on a jump shot with 10:06 remaining in the opening half.
Eclar, a Glendale Adventist Academy graduate, scored the Vaqueros’ other basket in the first half. She made a bank shot to cut the deficit to 19-4 with 8:31 left.
The Vaqueros made two of 17 shots and registered 13 turnovers in the first half. Overall, Glendale made 10 of 43 shots from the floor.
“We did a little better in the second half and we do have the ability to do some things in conference,” said Miller, whose team’s previous low offensive output came Dec. 16 in a 78-31 loss against Antelope Valley in the Antelope Valley College Tournament. “We have got to take our mistakes and work on them because we can only look forward.”
Eclar and Alexandra Mancillas had six points apiece for the Vaqueros, who will meet L.A. Valley at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Valley.
Valley got 14 points each from Porcha Davis, Ashley Haro and Alejandra Gallardo.
Hang, who coached the Vaqueros the past five seasons, said she expected a quality start from the Monarchs.
‘We played 17 games in the preseason and we talked about how we just have to focus on ourselves,” said Hang, who resigned in June after going 75-75 and 27-33 in conference at Glendale. “We’ve been teaching things like ball pressure, playing the passing lanes and getting some defensive stops.
“GCC will always be special to me. It wasn’t weird coming back. I’m happy with the team that I have at Valley.”
The Vaqueros will next compete in another conference contest at 7 p.m. Saturday at Santa Monica City College.
