Corsair Women's Basketball Loses Final Game of the Season Against West LA 83-76
On a highly emotional sophomore night, Santa Monica College (SMC) women’s basketball team came into the final game of the season with a record of (11-16). The Corsairs were faced against West LA College (WLAC) (10-17), who gave SMC trouble in their last match, which resulted in a loss for SMC.
To start sophomore night, SMC recognized five players who were set to play in their last game as a Corsair before transferring to a University. The student-athletes recognized were: Chassen Gutierrez, 1, forward; Camryn McMahan, 4, guard; Danielle Roberts, 14, forward; Ariana Quintana, 21, guard; and Nina Gazo, 34, center.
The five student-athletes were celebrated by the fans when they were given the opportunity to walk across the court accompanied by their family, friends, and loved-ones. Heart-felt cheers and chants were repeated throughout the crowd.
In the first quarter SMC had the size advantage, giving them the ability to out-rebound WLAC; allowing SMC to create extra scoring opportunities. Gazo (C), who stands at 6’3”, forced WLAC to get rid of any thoughts about driving inside the lane or having any opportunity to score anywhere close.
In this game, SMC relied heavily on the rebounding production of Gazo and the offensive scoring put forth from Gutierrez (F). These two were able to keep SMC ahead early in the game, creating opportunities for Quintana (G), who was persistent in her pursuit to score.
Though SMC seemed to outplay WLAC through the first-half, WLAC made-up for their mishaps with their fast-paced play and ability to continuously make their three-ball. By the end of the first-half it was a close game (42-38, WLAC) and seemed to look like a coin-flip to figure out who would win this game.
The second-half turned into a slow but steady bleed for SMC. The Corsairs didn’t make any lineup adjustments, which in turn resulted in a 15-0 run for WLAC, giving them the clear upper hand throughout the third quarter and boosted them to a lead of (57-38).
Despite falling to a nearly 20-point deficit, the Corsairs rallied together and were able to crawl back into this game late in the fourth-quarter. Led by Gutierrez (F), SMC revived themselves and got within reach of WLAC with a score of (70-61) with five minutes left in the game.
SMC’s ability to play hard defense and put relentless pressure on WLAC got them back into this game with three-minutes left in the fourth at a score of (72-66). SMC’s Kennedy Martin, 21, (F) played a major-role late and was able to contribute 21-points along with major points late in the game, which brought SMC back within one point (73-72) with one minute left in regulation.
Emotions began to run high with everything being laid-out on the table from the Corsairs, but in the end they were unable to successfully complete the comeback. Losing against WLAC with a score of (83-76).
Although the team was unable to pull a victory out, the Corsairs were relentless in their efforts and teamwork to fight back. SMC women's basketball ends the season with a record of (11-17).