Chargers Women’s Basketball Secures Third Place at LA Valley Tournament

CYPRESS, CA - During the weekend of December 12-14 the Cypress Women's Basketball Team traveled to LA Valley to compete in the LA Valley tournament going against several equally matched teams. They finished off the weekend with an overall tournament record of 2-1.

Game 1: Cypress 44, Mt. SAC 42

In the first matchup, Cypress edged out a win against Mt. San Antonio College with a narrow 44-42 victory, handing Mt. SAC their third loss of the season. The team leaned on their rebounding and key contributions from both starters and reserves to secure the hard-fought win. The Chargers set the tone early with tough defense, forcing Mt. SAC into a scoreless night from beyond the arc. Cypress went into halftime with a slim lead, fueled by their fast-break opportunities.The Chargers' depth proved critical, with Andrea Lopez scoring 8 points, including two clutch three-pointers, and Journie Hayden adding 4 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Kalysa Ng provided a spark with 8 points and 4 rebounds in her 21 minutes of action. Defensively, Cypress dominated with 36 total rebounds, limiting Mt. SAC's second-chance opportunities.

Game 2: Cypress 59, Long Beach 60

In the second matchup the Chargers went up against the Long Beach Vikings in a thrilling battle, with a final score of 60-59. Cypress responded with balanced scoring, led by Mariah Henderson, who came off the bench to spark the Chargers with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Despite shooting struggles from beyond the arc, Cypress managed to keep the game close with solid rebounding and defensive stops. Cypress found their rhythm in the second half, with Chelsea Caldera stepping up as a key playmaker, contributing 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Chargers also got a boost from Kalysa Ng, whose energy on both ends led to 11 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. 

Game 3: Cypress 77, LA Valley 52

In the final game of the tournament Cypress secured an impressive 77-52 victory over LA Valley College. It marked the second time these teams have faced each other, with Cypress taking home the win in their first meeting. Cypress jumped out to an early lead, led by Chelsea Caldera, who finished the game with a stellar 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Chargers set the tone early with their aggressive defense, holding LA Valley to just 32.1% shooting from the field. Andrea Lopez was a key contributor off the bench, scoring 14 points, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, helping the Chargers maintain their momentum throughout the first half. Cypress continued their dominance in the second half, with strong performances from reserves Journie Hayden and Mariah Henderson. Hayden added 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Henderson chipped in with 7 points and 4 rebounds. The Chargers' bench significantly outscored LA Valley's, and defensively, Cypress out-rebounded LA Valley 46-29, creating second-chance opportunities while limiting LA Valley's scoring chances.

UP NEXT: The Chargers will travel to San Jose City College over the December 27-29 weekend for a tournament.

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