Ceja Scores 26 in Cougars' 78-51 Home Loss to Fullerton
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fullerton
8-1, 0-0
|
27 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 78 |
|
Canyons
2-6, 0-0
|
6 | 17 | 11 | 17 | 51 |
Team Stats
| Game Statistics | Fullerton | Canyons |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (29-70) | (19-52) |
| Field Goal % | 41.4% | 36.5% |
| Rebounds | 49 | 29 |
| Assists | 16 | 6 |
| Turnovers | 17 | 18 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 21 | 12 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 18 | 5 |
| Pts in the Paint | 40 | 26 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 25 | 3 |
By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director
College of the Canyons received a game-high 26 points from freshman Mia Ceja in a 78-51 loss to Fullerton College on Thursday night at the Cougar Cage.
Canyons (2-6) was challenged from the opening tip-off by a Fullerton (8-1) squad that entered the game after back-to-back double-digit victories. The Hornets outscored COC 27-6 in the opening quarter and never looked back, eventually taking a 51-23 advantage into halftime.
The Cougars started slowly but seemed to come to life in the second frame behind Ceja who netted 11 of the team's 17 points in the quarter. The Sylmar High School product shot 10-of-28 for the game to finish with a season-best 26 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Her eight boards, which were also a season high, led the Cougars.
Canyons was forced to play with just a seven-women rotation in the game compared to Fullerton which saw 12 players log minutes in the contest.
Freshman Vivianna Alvarado finished with 12 points and four rebounds for the Cougars. Alissa Saridin scored eight points despite fouling out after just 22 minutes of action.
COC combined to shoot 36.5 percent from the field and was outrebounded by a 49-29 margin. On the defensive end the Cougars came away with seven steals and three blocks, while forcing the Hornets into 17 turnovers.
Fullerton had three starters reach double figures led by Xochitl Hood with 21. The Hornets, which shot better than 41 percent and totaled 16 assists in the game, also received 25 points from its reserves.
Canyons played a spirited fourth quarter with Ceja adding seven and Alvarado adding five more to help the Cougars finish on a strong note.
COC will next take its home floor at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, vs. College of the Desert, on Lee Smelser Court at the Cougar Cage. That game will be broadcast to fans free of charge on the Cougars Sports Network.
Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
—Photo by Carla Sophia Velasco/COC Sports Information
