Canyons Improves to 2-0 with Win Over Laney College

WALNUT, Calif.  — The College of the Canyons women's basketball team took the court for a second straight day at the Mt. SAC Tip-Off Tournament, and again it left the court with an early season victory, defeating Laney College 86-70 after an impressive first half run.

A day after COC won a defensive struggle against Sierra in which neither team shot better than 38 percent from the field, Laney presented the Cougars with a more challenging offensive attack to defend.

COC was unable to contain Laney forward Emani Gardener, who tallied 21 points and seven rebounds.

However, the Cougars counteracted their opponents' inside strength with an impressive display of long range shooting, draining 41 percent of its three-point shots. After edging Sierra in free throw attempts during the tournament's first game, COC again had the advantage in that category, getting to the line 37 times and converting at a 75 percent clip.

Sophomore guard Jordan Oster gave the Cougars a lift off the bench, scoring a team-high 20 points on just nine field goal attempts. Guard Qimmah Russo was perfect on all 11 of her free throws, and finished with 15 points to go along with two assists.

Forward Monica Friedl pitched in with 11 points, five rebounds and six steals for COC, which entered halftime up 38-22 and never looked back.

Canyons (2-0) will next face tourney host Mt. SAC in the tournament's championship game on Sunday.