SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The College of the Canyons women's basketball team outscored No. 19 Cuesta College 44-29 in the second half on Saturday night to beat the visiting Cougars, 73-66, at the Cougar Cage. Canyons improved to 13-12 overall and 7-3 in the Western State Conference, North Division, while Cuesta drops to 21-7 overall and 6-5 in conference.
Sophomore forward Keiona Mathews scored 15 of her 25 points in the second half, while also leading all players with 18 rebounds. Sophomore guard Shawn Kolani turned in 17 points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of work, while freshman guard Jordan Oster tallied 10 points off the bench.
The Cougars bounced back from being down 19 points to Cuesta College in the first half. Canyons shot a dismal 27.3 percent (9-of-33) from the field and 20 percent (2-of-10) from beyond the 3-point line in the first period.
After falling behind, 41-29, at the end of the first half, COC tied the game up, 52-all, at the halfway point of the second half. The two teams exchanged baskets for the next eight minutes and Cuesta found themselves down by two points, 68-66, with 2:19 left in regulation. Mathews and Oster combined for 5-of-6 from the free throw line down the stretch and held Cuesta scoreless in the final minutes.
The Cougars will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 19 for a 5 p.m. game against No. 1 Ventura College.
