Hancock Women Look to Stay Hot, Host Lady Bulldog Classic This Thursday through Saturday

The Hancock women return home to host the annual Allan Hancock College Lady Bulldog Classic. The three-day tournament runs from Thursday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 12. The Bulldogs, who have won six straight, are 7-1 and off to the program's best start in recent memory. They open Thursday at 7 p.m. against Gavilan.

The Hancock defense ranks second among the state's 90 teams in team defense. The Bulldogs have allowed 39.5 points per game and limited opponents to 34 percent shooting. Foothill has limited opponents to 37.4 points per game, which ranks second in California. 

Monterey Peninsula, Cuesta, Lassen, Barstow, Siskiyous and Saddleback will also compete at Hancock. The tournament opens at 1 p.m. when Cuesta battles Siskiyous, Saddleback and Barstow meet at 3 p.m., while Monterey and Lassen play at 5 p.m. All games will take place inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.  Games will take place at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 9. To see the bracket, click here.

The Bulldogs are coming off a memorable weekend that ended with the program's first Cuesta College Tournament championship since 1991. Hancock opened with a 71-45 win over Las Positas, followed by a 55-49 win over Monterey Peninsula and a 58-44 victory in the title game against College of the Desert. 

Freshman Syenna Ramirez (St. Joseph HS) scored 17 of her team-high 22 points in a pivotal third quarter to lead the Bulldogs over Desert. She added 10 rebounds and six steals to earn Tournament MVP honors. She averaged 17 points over the three games.

Freshman Destinee Garcia had 16 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and four steals in the final. She was named to the All-Tournament Team. Freshman forward Kelly McClain finished with six points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals for the Bulldogs. Sophomore guard Marissa Torres (Templeton HS) added 10 points.  Torres averaged nearly 13 points per game for the Bulldogs over the weekend.

Gavilan is 2-4 and led by freshman point guard Cydney Caradonna who is averaging 14.8 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game.

Lassen is 4-6 and features three players averaging 10 or more points per game. Marayne Coleman leads the team at 18.4 points and 7.2 assists per game. Mikalia Bustamante averages a double-double with 14.6 points and 13.8 rebounds, while Kyana Scott averages 10 points per game. Bustamante ranks third in the state in rebounds.

Barstow, which finished runner-up last year, enters the tournament 6-4. Jaylan Price-Johnson averages 10.3 points and Essence Reece is the team's leading scorer at 12.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

Cuesta, the defending Lady Bulldog Classic champion, is off to a 4-5 start after a fourth place finish in its own tournament last weekend. Boomie Pierre is the team's leading scorer at 10.9 points, while Biba Kirschner averages 10.1 points per contest. Angela Llaverias is the team's leading rebounder at 8.7 rebounds to go with 6.3 points per game.

Monterey Peninsula finished third at the Cuesta Tournament after knocking off the host Cougars in the third place game 64-44. Sophomore guard Daniela Villegas is the team's leading scorer at 14.6 points per game. She scored 20 points in a six-point loss to Hancock over the weekend. Lillian Dawkins had 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Cassandra Barraza finished with 11 points and 10 boards against the Bulldogs. Monterey is 2-5 to open the season.

Saddleback is off to a 3-5 starts. Freshman point guard Teoncea Bennett, who shoots 42 percent from three-point range, leads the team with 14.8 points and 4 assists per game.

Siskiyous is undefeated and off to a 7-0 start. The Eagles average 82 points per game which ranks third in the state. Melissa Dailey is averaging 23 points per game and shooting 35 percent from three-point range. Hannah Thompson averages 20 points and is shooting 45 percent from three-point territory. Megan Dailey ranks third on the team with 12.3 points per game, while Gabriela Schmitt leads the team with 10.3 rebounds per game.