Hancock Women Drop Home Opener 72-63 to Reedley

Karly Beyers led a trio of Bulldogs with 13 or more points with 18 points, but the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team dropped its home opener 72-63 to Reedley on Tuesday afternoon in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The Bulldogs dropped to 2-2 to start the season, while Reedley improved to 4-1.

Hancock built a 17-11 lead after the first quarter behind six points from Grace Rosa and four points from Brianna Rubalcaba in the opening 10 minutes. A layup by Beyers pushed Hancock's lead to 23-13 just two minutes into the second quarter.

However, Reedley went on a 24-9 run the rest of the quarter to carry a 37-32 lead into halftime. Nyla Curtis fueled Reedley's dominant second quarter with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point range. The Tigers shot 47 percent in the quarter and made five 3-pointers.

Hancock trailed 45-38 to start the fourth quarter, but could not get closer than three points the rest of the way.

Beyers went 7-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-5 from 3-point range to finish with 18 points. The sophomore pulled down eight rebounds to go with her six assists and two steals. Rosa added 14 points on 7-for-12 shooting. The Paso Roblea High School graduate added eight rebounds and two assists. Sophomore guard Taylor Lee-Hammer added 13 points on 6-for-14 shooting. Lee-Hammer hit one 3-pointer. She had three rebounds and four assists. Rubalcaba added a career-best eight points off the bench. Hannah Walls tallied five points, five rebounds and four assists for the Bulldogs.

Hancock lost despite shooting 53 percent from the field. The Bulldogs went 3-for-7 from the free-throw line or 43 percent.

Curtis led Reedley with 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting from the field. I'man Conley added 18 points. The Tigers shot 37 percent overall from the field by hitting 25 of their 67 shots overall. They went 13-for-21 from the free-throw line. The Tigers held a 36-35 edge in rebounds behind 12 offensive rebounds. Reedley finished with seven second-chance points, compared to zero for Hancock.

Hancock will return to action Thursday, November 30 at a three-day tournament hosted by Cuesta College. Hancock opens at 8 p.m. against San Diego City College.