Lady Bulldogs Top Rival Cuesta 53-37 Behind Trio of Sophomores

Taylor Lee-Hammer scored a game-high 18 points, and Hannah Walls recorded her third double-double to lead the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team to a 53-37 win over area rival Cuesta College on Wednesday evening in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. After winning their sixth straight meeting with Cuesta, the Bulldogs improved to 2-1 in Western State Conference play and 10-9 overall. Cuesta fell to 1-2 in league and 9-8 on the year.

Sophomore Karly Beyers drained two 3-pointers early in the first quarter to push the Bulldogs to an early 8-2 lead. Cuesta build a 9-8 lead, but the Bulldogs closed out the quarter on a 7-0 run to take the lead for good and carry a 15-9 advantage into the second quarter. Freshman Brianna Rubalcaba drained a jumper at the horn to give the Bulldogs a 30-22 lead at halftime.

Cuesta scored the first four points of the third quarter to climb to within four points at 30-26. Hancock regained control with a 15-4 run fueled by seven points from Lee-Hammer.

Lee-Hammer went 6-of-12 from the field and 2-for-4 from 3-point range. She hit all four of her free throw to finish with 18 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Beyers finished with 12 points behind a 3-for-9 effort from 3-point territory. The sophomore added eight rebounds and two assists in the Bulldogs' first home game of 2018.

Walls stepped up to score 11 points and pull down a career-high 13 rebounds. Walls went 5-for-12 from the floor and hit one of her five shots from long-range. Grace Rosa picked up three early fouls in the first half. She finished with four points and five rebounds.

Walls and Rosa blocked two shots apiece.

The Bulldogs held the Cougars to 22 percent shooting. Hancock hit 20-of-47 from the field for a 42 percent clip. The Bulldogs went 6-for-20 from 3-point range, while Cuesta hit 3-of-15. The Bulldogs also held a 44-25 advantage in rebounds.

Dakota Shinn led Cuesta with 14 points and seven rebounds. Courtney Barba finished with 13 points for the Cougars.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, January 27, at Oxnard in a conference game. Tipoff will be at 1 p.m.