Hancock Women Host Crossover Tournament Jan. 6-7

The Allan Hancock College women's basketball team returns home to host No. 14 Cuesta, Bakersfield, and L.A. Pierce from January 6-7, in the Bulldogs' final contests before opening Western State Conference play. Hancock enters the week with a 9-5 record, including a perfect 3-0 mark in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs will look to snap a three-game slide that pushed them out of this week's South Region Coaches Poll. Last week, Hancock lost to two ranked teams at the Optimist Tournament hosted by Ventura College. Hancock opened with an 86-48 loss to Orange Coast, the then-No. 12 team in Southern California. Freshman guard Taylor Lee-Hammer led Hancock with 16 points on a 5-for-6 effort from 3-point territory. Syenna Ramirez added 11 points and four assists per game. The Bulldogs fought tooth and nail against Mt. San Jacinto, the then third ranked team in SoCal and No. 6 team in California, but lost 76-73. Ramirez led the Bulldogs with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. Grace Rosa added 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Lee-Hammer and Destinee Garcia had 13 points apiece in the game. The Bulldogs recorded assists on 20 of their 26 baskets.

The Renegades are off to a 9-6 start with three players averaging at least 11 points per game. Guard Kennedy Nielson is the team's top scorer at 13.1 points, followed by forward MacKenzie Tevelde at 12.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Tevelde is shooting 55.8 percent from the floor. Marissa Figueroa averages 11.9 points per game. Bakersfield and Hancock have several mutual opponents, including Mt. San Jacinto, Las Positas, American River and Taft. Hancock and Bakersfield lost once each to those opponents. Hancock fell by three to Mt. San Jacinto, and the Renegades lost by five to American River.

L.A. Pierce enters with a 1-11 record and on an eight-game losing skid. The Brahmas average 27.7 points per game, but allow 72.7 points. Talitha Draper is the team's top scorer at 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, but has not played in the last four games. Vanessa Galvez averages 6.3 points per game, and is shooting 23.8 percent from 3-point range.

Cuesta will face L.A. Pierce on Friday at 5 p.m. and Hancock will follow against Bakersfield at 7 p.m. inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. Saturday, the Cougars will face Bakersfield at 3 p.m., and Hancock will battle Pierce at 5 p.m.