Taft Women's Basketball Win Two-Game Home Sweep in Season Opener
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUE | 13 | 15 | 19 | 11 | 58 |
| TAF | 20 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 66 |
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA | 16 | 11 | 18 | 22 | 67 |
| TAF | 15 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 79 |
TAFT, Calif. - The Taft College women's basketball team answered a three-point game entering the fourth quarter with a 16-11 closing quarter to defeat Cuesta College 66-58 on Friday, October 30, in Taft. The Cougars followed with a 79-67 victory over LA Harbor on Saturday, October 31, completing a sweep of their two-day home set.
In Game 1, Taft opened a 20-13 lead in the first quarter, but Cuesta steadily narrowed the gap. A 15-13 second-quarter advantage brought Cuesta within 33-28 at halftime, and a 19-17 third quarter cut the Cougars' lead to 50-47. Taft then limited Cuesta to 11 points in the fourth, its lowest-scoring quarter of the game.
Kamora Fletcher and Alexcia Oaxaca each finished with 17 points and eight rebounds for Taft. Oaxaca collected seven steals and Fletcher added six, accounting for 13 of the Cougars' 22 steals. Both also grabbed five offensive rebounds, helping Taft generate additional possessions on a night when it shot 23-of-82 from the field, or 28%.
Taya Dixey supplied 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench, making all three free-throw attempts. Naomi Emecheta contributed nine points, 10 rebounds and a block, while Touraya Blakey had eight points and four assists. Bailey Solano added three points and five rebounds. Taft finished with 44 rebounds, including 22 on offense, and committed 12 turnovers. The Cougars made 5-of-17 attempts from 3-point range and 15-of-24 free throws.
Game 2 required Taft to overcome an early deficit before a 25-point third quarter created separation. LA Harbor led 16-15 after the opening quarter, but the Cougars outscored the visitors 14-11 in the second to take a 29-27 halftime lead. Taft's 25-18 third quarter extended the margin to 54-45. The Cougars scored another 25 points in the fourth while LA Harbor scored 22.
Dixey led the second-game offense with a double double of 24 points and 13 rebounds off the bench, shooting 10-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, and adding three steals. Fletcher contributed 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Oaxaca scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and finished with five rebounds and five assists. Blakey added 11 points, three assists and three steals, while Emecheta collected eight rebounds.
Taft improved its shooting to 49.3% against LA Harbor, making 34-of-69 field-goal attempts and 6-of-20 3-pointers. The Cougars recorded 19 assists and 18 steals, overcoming 27 turnovers and a 5-of-18 performance at the free-throw line. They finished with 43 rebounds, including 11 on offense, and received 27 points from the bench.
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