PG Michelle Simmons had 25 pts, 13 rebs, 6 asts and 3 steals in a magnificent performance to lead #14 Mt. San Jacinto (14-8, 6-1) to a 78-66 win over host Rio Hondo (13-9, 3-4) Saturday afternoon in the womens game in Whittier.
This one was much closer than the score makes it look, as Rio Hondo trailed by just 5 points entering the final minute of play. But Simmons made 4 free throws, SF Caysha Jackson made two and Ctr Thalia Benjamin made one in that final minute while the Mt. San Jacinto defense held Rio Hondo scoreless to seal the win.
Mt. San Jacinto led the last half of the second half, but couldnt pull away until late. The largest Mt. San Jacinto lead before the final minute was 11, and that happened early in the game. The largest Mt. San Jacinto lead in the second half before the final minute was 8 points at 68-60 with just over 3 minutes left, but Rio Hondo sliced that to 4 points after a 3-pointer by PG Yanet Enriquez made it 69-65.
A basket by Mt. San Jacinto SF Jasmine Nyx made it 71-65, and then Rio Hondo got a free throw from Enriquez to make it 71-66 with just over a minute remaining. But that was as close as the Roadrunner would get, as Mt. San Jacinto made 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute and Rio Hondo failed to score again.
Early on, the teams traded runs, as Mt. San Jacinto went on a 13-0 run to take a 16-5 lead. But Rio Hondo answered that with a 14-2 run, taking a 19-18 lead on a basket by Enriquez midway through the first half. The lead went back and forth the rest of the half, with Mt. San Jacinto taking a 33-31 lead into the break.
When the second half began, Rio Hondo scored 10 straight points to take a 41-35 lead on a 3-pointer by SG Elena Agabao and 2-point baskets by Agabao and Ctr Champaign Hood. But then Mt. San Jacinto rallied to tie the game at 41. The game was last tied at 51 before Mt. San Jacinto gradually pulled into the lead.
For Mt. San Jacinto, Simmons was the standout but she got plenty of support. SF Kelly Johnson came off the bench to score 16 pts, including 4 threes. Jackson added 13 pts and Nyx had 9 pts. Benjamin had 6 pts plus 11 rebs.
For Rio Hondo, Enriquez led the way with 19 pts and 5 asts. Hood posted a double-double with 18 pts and 11 rebs, and Agabao reached double figures with 14 pts.
box score
Saturday, January 26, 2008 3 pm
at Rio Hondo College, Whittier
Foothill Conference Women
Mt. San Jacinto 78:
10-Jasmine Nyx, SF 2/7 fg, 5/6 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl, 4 pf, 9 pts
11-Michelle Simmons, PG 8/16 fg, 8/10 ft, 13 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl, 4 pf, 25 pts
12-Jennifer Avila, SG 0/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 0 pts
21-Jennifer Marquez, PF 2/7 fg, 0/2 ft, 8 reb, 2 ast, 5 pf, 4 pts
23-Thalia Benjamin, C 1/10 fg, 4/7 ft, 11 reb, 1 ast, 2 pf, 6 pts
13-Caysha Jackson, F 4/8 fg, 4/6 ft, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl, 3 pf, 13 pts
34-Destini Rhodes, G 0/4 fg, 0 pts
33-Kelly Johnson, F 6/11 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 pf, 16 pts
5-Kami Spier, C 2/2 ft, 1 ast, 1 stl, 2 pts
40-Julia Oberst, C 0/1 fg, 1 reb, 1 stl, 0 pts
24-Treasure Nottingham, F 1/1 fg 1/2 ft, 3 pts
team rebounds: 6
Totals: 24/67 fg (.358), 24/35 ft (.686), 46 reb, 14 ast, 1 blk, 9 stl, 21 pf, 78 pts
3-pt fg (6): Johnson 4, Simmons, Jackson
Fouled Out: Marquez 3:08 left
Turnovers (15): Jackson 6, Simmons 2, Marquez 2, Avila, Benjamin, Johnson, Spier
Oberst
Rio Hondo 66:
1-Champaign Hood, C 7/12 fg, 4/7 ft, 11 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 3 pf, 18 pts
3-Elena Agabao, SG 5/12 fg, 1 ast, 1 stl, 1 pf, 14 pts
22-Yanet Enriquez, PG 5/14 fg, 6/8 ft, 3 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 4 pf, 19 pts
32-Amy Gutierrez, SF 3/7 fg, 1/1 ft, 2 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 4 pf, 8 pts
33-Amanda Ragains, PF 1/3 fg, 3 reb, 5 ast, 3 blk, 4 pf, 2 pts
23-Maria Chavez, F 0/2 fg, 8 reb, 1 blk, 0 pts
10-Zenda Chanhsomphou, G 1/4 fg, 0/2 ft, 1 ast, 2 pf, 2 pts
12-Kristal Lizoala, F 0/3 fg, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl, 5 pf, 0 pts
15-Denise Cortes, G 1 stl, 1 pf, 0 pts
45-Reina Sosa, C 1/2 fg, 1/1 ft, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 pf, 3 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 23/59 fg (.390), 12/19 ft (.632), 42 reb, 16 ast, 5 blk, 6 stl, 25 pf, 66 pts
3-pt fg (8): Agabao 4, Enriquez 3, Gutierrez
Fouled Out: Lizoala 1:51 left
Turnovers (25): Ragains 5, Enriquez 4, Sosa 4, Gutierrez 3, Chanhsomphou 3, Hood, Agabao, Chavez, Lizoala, Cortes, team
Halftime Score: Mt. San Jacinto 33, Rio Hondo 31
Updated Records: Mt. San Jacinto (#14-South) 14-8, 6-1; Rio Hondo 13-9, 3-4
