Second-Quarter Surge Sends Fresno Past Taft 78-66

Fresno City College used a decisive second-quarter run to pull away and Taft College could not fully recover, as the Cougars dropped a 78-66 conference women’s basketball decision on Saturday evening at Cougar Court.

Trailing by just five after the opening 10 minutes, Taft was outscored 25-13 in the second quarter and went into halftime down 48-31. That 17-point margin proved to be the difference, with the Cougars playing Fresno nearly even the rest of the way but unable to erase the early deficit despite improved defense and rebounding after the break.

Taft’s best stretch came in the third quarter, when the Cougars tightened up defensively and outscored Fresno 15-12 to trim the gap to 60-46 heading into the fourth. Taft continued to battle in the final period, putting up 20 points and forcing Fresno into 26 total turnovers for the game, but Fresno’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert kept the visitors from mounting a serious late challenge.

Offensively, Taft was led by guard Madyn Kassatly, who delivered an all-around performance with 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals in 37 minutes while shooting 7-for-16 from the field and 2-for-5 from 3-point range. Fellow guard Ella Waufle recorded a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, adding three assists and five steals as she anchored the Cougars on the glass and on the perimeter.

Forward Nasia Thompson provided an efficient spark in limited minutes, scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line in 17 minutes of action. As a group, the Cougars controlled the boards with a 45-39 rebounding advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds that created second-chance opportunities throughout the night.

However, Taft’s rebounding edge was offset by Fresno’s efficiency and free-throw production. Fresno shot 41.1% from the field to Taft’s 33.8% and finished 27-for-34 at the line, compared with 11-for-19 for the Cougars. Taft also struggled with ball security, committing 32 turnovers that helped Fresno maintain its lead despite being pressured into 26 miscues of its own.

Fresno was paced by Sara Shein’s 14 points and five rebounds, while Deja Lee added 12 points, going 6-for-8 at the free-throw line and handing out four assists. The loss drops Taft to 66 points scored in the contest but offers several positives, including the Cougars’ dominance on the glass and strong individual outings from Kassatly, Waufle and Thompson as the team looks ahead to its upcoming conference slate.

Taft will have their conference home opener this Wednesday, January 14 against Porterville College at 6:00 pm.