Cougars Come Back to Defeat Oxnard College 46-41

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director

OXNARD — College of the Canyons used a 22-point fourth-quarter outburst to get past host Oxnard College 46-41 on Tuesday, winning its second game across its last three outings.

Canyons (4-7) trailed Oxnard (1-6) for a majority of the contest before eventually rallying to victory. The Cougars, who suffered a road loss at College of the Sequoias on Saturday, shot better than 41 percent in the final frame vs. Oxnard and went 4-of-5 from the charity stripe to help secure the win.  

Defensively, COC held the Condors scoreless across the final two minutes of action. Oxnard took a 35-24 lead into the fourth quarter before shooting a combined 2-of-11 down the stretch and seeing its lead evaporate.

Mia Ceja scored eight points in the fourth quarter to finish with a game-high 17 points. Ceja converted on a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to give Canyons a 45-41 cushion. She then added one more foul shot with six ticks left on the clock to make it an unsurmountable five-point advantage for the Cougars.

Alissa Saridin pulled down 14 rebounds to lead all players, adding nine points, a pair of steals and a block to her totals. Eleven of those boards were on the offensive end. 

Jenny Sanchez finished with eight rebounds in the game. 

Vivianna Alvarado scored 13 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, with an assist and three rebounds to help lead the way for Canyons. Alvarado went 3-of-5 from long range in that pivotal fourth-quarter run. 

The Cougars were held to single digit point totals across the first three quarters before finding its rhythm late. Despite the slow start, Canyons managed to stay close trailing 22-15 headed into the break.

Oxnard was led by Makayla Low's 16 points and five rebounds. Janelle Jimenez was next for the Condors with nine points, three assists and four boards.

The Condors outshot the Cougars for the game but were undone in a fourth quarter that saw the team convert on just two of 11 attempts. Oxnard only attempted three foul shots in the game, compared to 12 for COC.

Canyons will continue its current four-game road trip Friday, Dec. 20 with a 4 p.m. first tip at Long Beach City College.

The trip continues Saturday, Dec. 28 at Palomar College in another 4 p.m. start time. 

COC then returns to the Cougar Cage on Saturday, Jan. 4, for a non-conference home tilt vs. Porterville College at 3 p.m.

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 Robert Hanashiro/COC Sports Information