Ramirez Scores 40, Hancock Drops 86-78 Battle with No. 4 Siskiyous in Monterey Semifinals

Syenna Ramirez scored a career-high 40 points, and Destinee Garcia recorded a double-double as the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team nearly pulled off one of the biggest upset in program history in the championship semifinals of a tournament hosted by Monterey Peninsula on Friday evening. The Bulldogs, who are ranked No. 13 in the South Region, dropped an 86-78 back-and-forth battle with undefeated Siskiyous, the fourth ranked team in California. The Bulldogs dropped to 10-3 on the season, while Siskiyous improved to 13-0 overall.

Ramirez, a St. Joseph High School graduate, scored 13 points and Garcia added seven in the first quarter to give Hancock a 25-23 after the first 10 minutes. Ramirez poured in 16 more in the second quarter to give her 29 in the first half as the Bulldogs carried a 45-43 lead into intermission.

Siskiyous outscored Hancock 30-18 in the third quarter to carry a 73-63 lead into the fourth quarter.

Ramirez made 16 of her 28 shots from the floor, and six of 10 from the free throw line to finish with 40 points. She added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Bulldogs.

Garcia finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals.

Freshman forward Kelly McClain finished with eight points and eight rebounds.

Sophomore forward Michaila Miller had six points and eight rebounds, while Ashley Daher had six points, six rebounds and four assists.

The women will play in the third place game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs will play the winner of Friday's semifinal game featuring host Monterey and American River.