Women’s Basketball Leads Coast-to-Coast, Advances to Next Round

A dominant performance on the glass backed by a pesky defense carted the Riverside City College women's basketball team past the MiraCosta College Spartans in the opening round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional playoffs. Two players landed in double digit scoring with the Tigers dominating in nearly every category en route to a 72-57 victory.

The damage was done in the paint as the Tigers outrebounded MiraCosta 49-37. A whopping 21 of their rebounds came on the offensive end. This led to 17 second-chance opportunities which was two points fewer than the difference in the final score. They forced the Spartans to cough the ball up 17 times which led to 21 points off turnovers as well.

Freshman center Janara Williams was the catalyst to the inside game as she bagged a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double. It is her fifth-consecutive double-digit scoring game with four of them coming off the bench.

"I am feeling energetic and pumped," said Williams. "This is only the beginning and we have so much more to do."

Riverside advances to the second round and will face off against the south's sixth-seeded Long Beach City College Vikings this Saturday on the road.

"This game was very important and it shows what we are capable of doing. We have much more to do to make it to the next round."

Freshman guard N'Dya Parks was the only other player to land in double digits as her offensive tear continues. She flushed 20 points for her 10^th straight double digit showing. She has scored 20 or more points during that streak. She displayed great ball handling skills as well leading to three assists. She also added five rebound and pocketed a career-high five steals.

Williams' bench play was supported by sophomore guard Ayanna Bourgeois as she scored eight points which is her second largest output on the season. Sophomores Ashley Smith and Maxine Najera scored eight points each and combined for 12 rebounds.