Lassen Rallies Late to Defeat Bulldogs 52-49 for Consolation Championship

A 14-3 run over the final eight minutes helped the Lassen Cougars come-from-behind to stun the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team 52-49 in the consolation championship game on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs dropped to 5-7 overall, while Lassen improved to 8-5.

Nicole De La Guerra led the Bulldogs with 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Freshman guard Marissa Torres added 10 points and five rebounds. She made three of her seven shots from three-point range.

The Cougars held Hancock's dynamic scoring duo of Ali Rodriguez and Celina Calderon to 16 points combined and seven for 27 shooting. Rodriguez finished with seven points and four assists. The sophomore made three of 19 from the field. Calderon finished with nine points, all in the first half, on four for eight shooting.

De La Guerra scored a layup in the final 20 seconds of the first half to give Hancock a 34-21 lead into intermission. Rodriguez buried a three-pointer to give Hancock a 46-38 lead with 7:52 to play. However, six turnovers and three missed layups later, Lassen took its first lead of the game since midway through the first half. Mikailia Bustamante hit a jump shot with 20 seconds to play that gave Lassen a 50-49 lead. Lassen's defense forced a turnover and cashed in with a layup by Celine Bethel to take a three-point lead. Hancock had the ball in the closing seconds, but Calderon and Torres missed potential game-tying three-point shots.

Lassen shot 44 percent from the field, compared to 33 percent for Hancock. The Bulldogs made 24 percent (7 of 29) in the second half. Hancock made two of its three free throws, while Lassen hit four of its seven.

Hancock outrebounded Lassen 37-27. De La Guerra, Jazmine Cooks and Michaila Miller had six boards apiece. Cooks, a freshman, added six points and one assist. 

Bustamante led Lassen with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Hancock returns to action on Thursday, Dec.18, at a tournament hosted by Monterey Peninsula College.