The De Anza College women’s basketball team played aggressively in their Jan. 23 home game and defeated the San Jose City College Jaguars, 64-56.
After their Jan. 18 loss to Mission College, the Dons returned and dominated over the visiting Jaguars from start to finish.
The Dons rank second in the South Division of the Coast Conference with four conference wins and one loss after the victory over the Jaguars. Mission currently holds the first rank seat.
De Anza freshmen Shayla McPhearson and Melissa Cabrera and sophomore Alex Scoffone led the team in scoring, with McPhearson scoring the first points of the game.
McPhearson played up-tempo, stealing the ball and darting across the midcourt line for a quick two points. She leads the conference with the most steals per game, according to California Community College Athletics Association.
Jaguar sophomore, Aiwekhoe Okungbowa, scored the majority of her team’s points. She leads the conference in points per game with 24.3, followed by McPhearson with 20.2.
The scoring abilities of Okungbowa and her teammates were undermined by poor ball control.
The Jaguar’s offense suffered from fumbled dribbling and missed passes in the first half.
However, Okungbowa, with help from Inez Acevedo, Victoria Aguilera, Angel Conforti and Christy Meunruakham, managed to rack up points.
By halftime, De Anza led San Jose City, 33-22.
The Jaguars returned to the court refreshed, scoring seven points in the first two and a half minutes of the second half.
While their ball handling troubles vanished, they committed more fouls in the second half of the game.
Scoffone took four free throws within the last three minutes, as the Jaguars recieved two consecutive fouls.
Freshman Sarah Shear was injured and sidelined early in the first half, and limped out of the gym during halftime. She returned in the second half, and added to the score.
“We took care of the ball today,” said head coach Arden Kragalott. “Defensively we did a nice job.”
SHOT FOR THE BASKET – De Anza’s Sarah Shear (21) makes a 2-point shot as SJCC players Inez Acevedo (21) and Michelle Reyes (42) look on. (NATHAN MITCHELL / LA VOZ WEEKLY)
