CYPRESS, CA- The Cypress College women's basketball team traveled to No. 1 Moorpark College for the Southern California Regional Finals on Saturday night. The No. 9 Chargers came up short, 70-39, in an effort that closes the book on an impressive Cypress Charger basketball season.
The Cypress Chargers (21-7) fought for every bucket they scored in Saturday's playoff matchup. The Moorpark Raiders (27-1) showcased a stifiling defense that focused on locking down Chargers' All-State Star, Jessica Barrow. Cypress struggled to get anything going on offense as they saw the Raiders turn defense to offense and score transition layups.
Jessica Barrow fought through the gritty Raiders defense and led the Chargers with 10 points on a rough shooting night. The freshman was unable to find a clean look and was denied the basketball all night. Alison Nelson and Sarah Welch each grabbed 6 boards for the Chargers as they were tasked with stopping Moorpark's All-State talent, Jazmine Nichols in the paint. Pressila Blanco was unable to get in a groove as she scored 9 points and was pressed all game as she brought the ball up the floor.
The Moorpark Raiders guards' Bree Calhoun and Jazzy Carrasco displayed their speed and playmaking ability as they disected the Chargers defense. Bree Calhoun flirted with a triple double as she posted 17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Her counterpart, Jazzy Carrasco, scored 17 points of her own while swiping 5 steals. The six foot center, Jazmine Nichols, was a threat on the glass on both ends of the court as she pulled down 14 rebounds and tacked on 14 points.
Cypress fell behind early 4-2, and never led in Saturday's matchup. A 13-0 run in the first quarter built momentum for the Raiders as they did not look back. The Chargers trailed by 12 points after the first quarter and they saw their defense step up in the second. Cypress played the Raiders even for most of the 2nd quarter, but Moorpark had an answer for every basket that the Chargers scored. Alison Nelson knocked down a three pointer with 5:11 to go in the second quarter and cut the Raiders lead down to 11. The next posession down the floor Lupita Rocha of Moorpark found the bottom of net from three. After a buzzer beating jumphot by Jessica Barrow, Cypress went into halftime with a 15 point deficit, 33-18. A 12-2 run by Moorpark early in the third quarter would put the season in doubt for Cypress. Moorpark ran away with the game in the 4th quarter, but the Cypress ladies played tough until the final whistle.
Despite a dissapointing loss, 70-39, the Chargers add another successful women's basketball season to their storied history. In a season where this team became a family, legendary Coach Margaret Mohr earned her 400th win, Cypress finished with an astounding 21-7 record, and an appearance in the Southern California Regional Finals the women's basketball team has alot to be proud of.
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