Women’s basketball loses late to Mission College

The De Anza women’s basketball team’s three-game winning streak came to an end on Friday, Jan. 29, losing 76-68 to Mission College.

Forward Marina Ramon-Lopez controlled the post and scored 24 of the team’s 68 points, but the Dons’ rebound trouble and high turnover rate ultimately cost them the game.

The closeness of the game coupled with on the court tension made this loss an especially difficult one for the Don’s, who hold the third position in the Coast Conference South Division standings, behind No. 2 Mission College.

The Dons started out with a strong first quarter. The Saints controlled the rebounds, but the Dons’ offense dominated. They ended the first quarter on a high note, with a steal by guard Stephanie Rudd and a three pointer by guard Tiffany Raczynski. Going into the 2nd quarter, the Don’s lead 25-16.

The Saints fired back in the 2nd quarter with an aggressive full-court press and quickly cut into the deficit. The Dons’ offense struggled to get the ball inbounds and barely left the backcourt because of the many turnovers and rebounds.

“When they started to press us is when we started making many mistakes,” Ramon-Lopez said.

Holes in the Dons’ defense left Mission players wide open for three-pointers which allowed them to tie the score and take the lead.

De Anza went into halftime down 39-37.

The Dons trailed by one possession for most of the game, but a series of bad passes combined with the Saints’ steady rebounding allowed Mission to increase their lead.

Forward Nora Alataua said rebounds and turnovers were the Don’s biggest weaknesses.

“We had 17 [turnovers] in one half, which is not good,” she said.

Ramon-Lopez’s consistent layups along the baseline kept the Dons afloat, but they were still down by nine with two minutes left in the game.

“The first half, we were on point, but the second half we started to fall apart,” point guard Jennilyn Sipat said.

The Dons closed in on Mission going into the last 30 seconds. The Dons were down 72-68, after scoring four points in six seconds.

Despite the Dons’ good run in the last minutes of the game, multiple fouls helped the Saints finish strong and win 76-68.

Head coach Megan Hankins said the team needs to be more aggressive, both offensively and defensively.

“We are young,” Hankins said. “We have a lot to learn,but I think that with every game we’re getting better.”