Beyers and Garcia Lead Hancock Women's Basketball to 53-36 Win in Season Opener

Sophomore Destinee Garcia recorded a double-double, and freshman Karly Beyers poured in 16 points to lead the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team to a season-opening 53-36 win over L.A. Southwest in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs won their opener for the second straight year.

Garcia and Beyers tied for the team-high with 16 points. Garcia fell two assists shy of a triple-double. She made eight of her 14 shots from the floor, pulled down 11 rebounds, and dished out eight assists. Beyers hit seven of her 19 shots, including one of seven from 3-point range. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate also pulled down four rebounds.

Freshman Naomi Leopardi finished with four points, 11 rebounds and a team-best five steals. Grace Rosa, a Paso Robles High School graduate, scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and had two steals in her Hancock debut. Sophomore guard Syenna Ramirez, an All-Conference pick last season, finished with six points, seven assists and two steals. 

The Bulldogs tallied 15 steals, 21 steals, and held the rebounding edge 45 to 30. Hancock pulled 19 offensive rebounds as Garcia, Rosa, Leopardi and Beyers had three apiece.

The Bulldogs shot 43 percent from the floor and hit 25 of 58 overall. Hancock won despite going 1 for 19 from 3-point range, and sinking 2 of 11 from the free-throw line.

The Hancock defense held L.A. Southwest to 26 percent shooting from the floor as the Cougars made 13 of their 49 shots.

Hancock scored the first bucket of the game and never trailed the rest of the day. The Bulldogs led 12-3 after the first quarter and 20-12 at the half. Hancock outscored the Cougars 22-13 in the fourth quarter to cruise to the victory.

Hancock returns to action at 4 p.m. next Friday, November 11, at L.A. Harbor. The Bulldogs' next home game is at 6 p.m. on November 17, against Taft.