Torres and McClain Lead Hancock Women by Cuesta 56-43

Marissa Torres scored 17 points, Kelly McClain recorded her third double-double of the season to lead the Allan Hancock College women's basketball team to a 56-43 victory over Cuesta on Saturday in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. Hancock ended a 10-game losing streak to Cuesta and picked up its first win over the Cougars since January 2011. The Bulldogs improved to 4-2 in Western State Conference play and 15-6 overall. The Cougars dropped to 1-4 in conference and 6-15 overall.

Torres hit five of her 11 shots from three-point range and six of 16 shots overall. The Templeton High School graduate added five rebounds and two steals.

McClain came off the bench to score 14 points and grab a team-high 13 rebounds. The freshman made six of her 15 shots and grabbed three offensive boards. She also blocked four shots.

Freshman guard Syenna Ramirez finished with 11 points. She made four of her 10 shots from the field. The St. Joseph High School graduate ended with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. 

The Bulldogs led 13-10 after the first quarter, but went on a 15-3 run to open the second quarter fueled by a trio of threes from Torres. The sophomore buried a jumper at the end of the second to give the Bulldogs a 36-17 lead at halftime.

After Torres buried a three to open the third to give Hancock its largest lead of the game at 39-17, the Cougars went on a 22-10 run the rest of the quarter and trailed 49-39 to start the fourth.  The Cougars scored the first bucket of the fourth to climb to within eight at 49-41, but the Bulldog defense did not allow Cuesta to get any closer the rest of the way.

Freshman Janessa Hernandez added nine points, four steals and three assists for the Bulldogs. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate made two of her five shots from the field, and hit four of her six free throws.

Overall, Hancock made 20 of its 58 shots (34 percent) and hit seven of its 21 shots from three-point range (33 percent). The Bulldogs sank nine of their 16 free throws (56 percent). The Bulldogs held a 39-36 edge on rebounds.

Cuesta shot 28 percent overall (15 for 53) and sank just one of its 12 three-point shots (8 percent). The Cougars made 12 of their 21 free throws.

Freshman Connor Storlie led the Cougars with 15 points. Templeton High School graduate Autumn Russell added nine points and 13 rebounds for Cuesta.

Hancock returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 30 at Santa Barbara City College. The Vaqueros and Bulldogs will tip off at 5 p.m. Hancock opened conference earlier this month with a 66-37 loss to the Vaqueros despite 18 points from Ramirez.