Photos by Bobby R. Hester
Photos by Bobby R. Hester

Women’s Basketball Upsets No. 16 Cypress

A late fourth-quarter push by the Cypress College Chargers made an early blowout interesting as the Riverside City College women's basketball team looked to make a push to enter the top-three in conference. Despite ladder half struggles, Riverside controlled the reins for the better part of the contest leading to a 66-60 victory.

Prior to tongiht's game, the closest Riverside came to defeating Cypress was back in 2012 when the Tigers fell to the Chargers in overtime by the final score of 73-71. The last time Riverside defeated Cypress was in 2006. The Tigers tasted revenge tonight behind a sensational showing from sophomore guard Trinity Vasquez.

Vasquez, who is the Tigers leading scorer (17.3 points-per-game) for the second-consecutive season, controlled the offense leading to 25 points which acts as her season high mark. It is the second-consecutive game she has bucketed 20 points or more and the seventh game she has surpassed 20 points. In addition, it is her 15th straight game she has landed in double-digits and 19th overall. She was just a pair of rebounds shy of a double-double while adding two assists and a steal in the process.

Riverside outshined the Chargers on all major facets of the game. They shot 41.9 percent from the floor while halting Cypress to a season-low 29.3 mark. The won the battle down low with 54 rebounds to Cypress' 46. They did cough up the ball 23 times, but the majority of the turnovers came in the final quarter.

Riverside led by as much as 19 points in the game, while Cypress only held a three-point advantage which was 31 seconds in the game. From then on, it was the Tigers' show.

Freshman Asia Anderson and sophomore Vanessa Vargas each flushed 10 points. Freshman Rebecca London, who has come off of the bench the past two games, saw one of her better games in recent memory as seen in 12 points in 24 minutes of action.

Riverside (12-8, 4-3 OEC) will continue action on Wednesday, February 5 on the road against the Santa Ana College Dons.