Cougars’ Conference Record at .500 After Loss to Bakersfield

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – A three-point Cougar halftime lead quickly disappeared via a cold-shooting second half in the College of the Canyons women's basketball team's 73-59 loss to conference rival Bakersfield College at the Cougar Cage on Saturday night.

The loss continues COC's streak of up-and-down conference play. The Cougars have alternated wins and losses in the early part of the conference schedule, going 3-3.

From the tip, the Cougars faced a big deficit after the Renegades got off to a 13-2 run.

The Cougars were able to close the gap, fighting back to eventually take a 23-22 lead on a couple of Amber Evans free throws. The COC lead grew to as many as six in the first half.

The COC defense smothered the Bakersfield offense the rest of the opening period, holding the Renegades to only three made field goals in the final six minutes of the half.

COC forward Monica Friedl had a huge first half, leading the Cougars on both ends of the floor scoring 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting with seven rebounds and two blocks. Friedl would finish the game with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Canyons earned its lead from the charity stripe. The Cougars held the advantage shooting 11-of-18 from the line, while Bakersfield shot only 5-of-8 in the first half.

The second half opened similarly to the first. After trading baskets at the start, COC's halftime lead crumbled under the weight of a 14-4 Bakersfield run, putting the Cougars down 10 points by the mid-point of the second half. 

The Cougars couldn't chip away at Bakersfield's lead, shooting only 25.9 percent from the field in the second half. Turnovers also stifled any attempt at a comeback with the Cougars committing 12 turnovers in the second half alone.

All told, the Cougars were outscored 42-25 in the second half.

Guard Jordan Oster had a strong second half despite COC's offensive woes, scoring seven points in only seven minutes of action. Oster finished the game with 12 points.

The loss drops COC to the middle of the WSC South standings trailing Bakersfield, Glendale and Santa Monica. The Cougars sport a 13-8 overall record on the season. 

Head coach Greg Herrick and the Cougars will look to bounce back on the road against Citrus College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28.