Issue Date: 2/8/10
Palomar's women's basketball team wins crucial game to remain in first place in conference
By Denny Dorsey
The Palomar College women's basketball team played the Grossmont Griffins Feb. 5 in a must-win game. They did, and in convincing fashion, 58-32.
With the win, the Comets have sole possession of first place in the Pacific Coast Conference. A loss would have all but eliminated them from a chance at a third consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championship.
The Comets record moves to 18-5, 9-1 in the conference. The Griffins fell to 20-5, 8-2 in conference.
Coach Sherri Jennum said she was very optimistic about and eager to play this game. In early January, when the Griffins beat the Comets at Grossmont, they not only tied for first in the conference, they snapped Palomar's 33-game conference winning streak.
"We never lose at home," she said. "Since our loss to Grossmont, we have blown out all of our opponents, while Grossmont has eeked out wins in their last few games."
After a slow start, with both squads going almost three minutes without scoring, sophomore guard Kiara Stinson stole the ball, and drove it all the way down the court for an uncontested layup.
With 11:23 seconds left in the first half, Nyla Bailey exploded underneath to the basket and scored, making it 13-2. The powerful basket marked the Comets' first double-digit lead. The lead only grew from there.
"I think, in practice, we practice getting the ball inside," Bailey said of their scoring.
"I always post up inside. In the game, the ball will come to me, and I do finish."
The freshman center had a double-double, scoring 14 points, and pulling down 12 rebounds.
Two minutes into the second half, the Comets struck first. Stinson, easily the fastest player on either side, raced the length of a court for an easy lay-up.
With Palomar's stifling defense keeping Grossmont from scoring for the first four minutes of the second half, the Griffins' hope of a comeback all but disappeared.
"I wasn't surprised that we won. They played hard, but we wanted it bad," Stinson said.
With the win, the Comets have sole possession of first place in the Pacific Coast Conference. A loss would have all but eliminated them from a chance at a third consecutive Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Championship.
The Comets record moves to 18-5, 9-1 in the conference. The Griffins fell to 20-5, 8-2 in conference.
Coach Sherri Jennum said she was very optimistic about and eager to play this game. In early January, when the Griffins beat the Comets at Grossmont, they not only tied for first in the conference, they snapped Palomar's 33-game conference winning streak.
"We never lose at home," she said. "Since our loss to Grossmont, we have blown out all of our opponents, while Grossmont has eeked out wins in their last few games."
After a slow start, with both squads going almost three minutes without scoring, sophomore guard Kiara Stinson stole the ball, and drove it all the way down the court for an uncontested layup.
With 11:23 seconds left in the first half, Nyla Bailey exploded underneath to the basket and scored, making it 13-2. The powerful basket marked the Comets' first double-digit lead. The lead only grew from there.
"I think, in practice, we practice getting the ball inside," Bailey said of their scoring.
"I always post up inside. In the game, the ball will come to me, and I do finish."
The freshman center had a double-double, scoring 14 points, and pulling down 12 rebounds.
Two minutes into the second half, the Comets struck first. Stinson, easily the fastest player on either side, raced the length of a court for an easy lay-up.
With Palomar's stifling defense keeping Grossmont from scoring for the first four minutes of the second half, the Griffins' hope of a comeback all but disappeared.
"I wasn't surprised that we won. They played hard, but we wanted it bad," Stinson said.
Be the first to comment on this story