Hancock Women Fall to Cuesta 78-46 in WSC Battle

            Five Cuesta College players reached double-figures as the Lady Cougars ran away from the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team in the second half to hand the Bulldogs a 78-46 loss on Thursday in San Luis Obispo.

            Hancock dropped to 2-6 in Western State Conference play and 12-11 overall. Cuesta moved to 4-4 in WSC action and 19-6 for the season. The Cougars won all three games against the Bulldogs this season.

            Justine Roland led the Bulldogs with 11 points on a 4 for 16 night from the floor. Veronica Sua added 10 points and six rebounds. Celina Calderon added nine points on a 3 for 11 effort from the field. Calderon, a Lompoc High School graduate, went 2 for 9 from 3-point range. Ali Rodriguez went 2 for 7 from beyond the arc and finished with six points. 

            Hancock struggled from the floor and shot just 28.8 percent from the floor. The Bulldogs made just 17 of their 59 shots. Hancock went 4 for 19 from 3-point range, which equated to 21.1 percent. Hancock managed just 11 free throw shots and made eight of them. 

            Cuesta shot 63.5 percent on the night by making 33 of its 52 shots. The Cougars outrebounded the Bulldogs 27-23. Miriam Zabinsky led the Cougars with 17 points. Mission Prep graduate Kaylee Williams added 15 and Righetti High grad Katie Rodriguez scored 14. Melissa Lemus and Jerrica Crosby added 10 points apiece.

            The Bulldogs host Ventura on Saturday in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium at 3 p.m. Ventura has won 23-straight conference titles and is ranked No.1 in the state.  Ventura is 7-0 in WSC action and 22-3 overall.  The Pirates defeated Cuesta 70-49 earlier in the season.