Defense clamps down

The Saddleback women's basketball opened the new calendar year with a 43-28 victory over El Camino College on Friday night in Torrance.  The Bobcat defense held the Warrior offense to 16.9% shooting for the night.

Saddleback entered as the favorites against an El Camino team that has yet to win a game during the 2024-25 campaign.  The Bobcats set the tone early with stifling defense in picking up its seventh win of the season.

Saddleback outscored El Camino 7-0 in the opening quarter, holding the Warriors to 0-for-18 shooting while forcing three turnovers and outrebounding El Camino 16-13.  Audrey Chow scored four of the seven points for the Bobcats in the opening quarter as Saddleback grabbed the early lead despite some cold shooting of their own from the outside (0-9).

Saddleback and El Camino traded baskets in the second quarter as Brianna Ruelas scored four points in the second frame and the Bobcats went to the locker room with a 16-8 lead at the break.

Saddleback put the game out of reach in the third quarter, led by Moanike'ala Scott.  The sophomore from Mililani High School (HI) opened the second half by burying a three-pointer on the opening possession for a 19-8 advantage.  Later in the quarter she nailed another for a 26-15 lead with 5:19 remaining.  It was the first of two straight three-pointers for the Bobcats as Jamie Ponteres followed with another as Saddleback's lead grew to 14 points.  Audrey Chow then got into the action with a three-pointer of her own at the 2:15 mark as the Bobcat lead grew to 32-17.  Saddleback would finish the quarter outscoring the Warriors 18-11 and taking a 15-point lead into the final quarter.  The Bobcats would cruise across the finish line for a 43-28 victory.

Saddleback's defense held El Camino to 11-of-65 shooting from the field while forcing 17 turnovers.  The Bobcats also had 53 rebounds for the game, with every player in the lineup collecting at least two rebounds in the contest. 

Scott finished with a team-high 10 points and 11 rebounds for Saddleback.  The Bobcats are now 7-8 overall on the 2024-25 campaign. 

Saddleback will try to win its third straight game on Wednesday when it hosts Long Beach City College in the final non-conference tune-up before entering Orange Empire Conference play.  The Bobcats and Vikings are scheduled to tip off at 5:00 PM inside the gymnasium.