Several struggling local basketball teams had successful series on the road last week.
The UC San Diego women (10-11, 6-3 Big West) stretched their winning streak to four straight with wins at UC Santa Barbara (62-43) and Cal State Northridge (82-44). Sumayah Sugapong (La Jolla Country Day) led the Tritons with 44 points in the two wins.
Both the Cal State San Marcos men’s and women’s teams swept a pair of games on the road.
The men (3-14, 3-8 CCAA) snapped a five-game losing streak with back-to-back road wins at Cal State Monterey Bay (71-64) and Stanislaus State (66-54). Forward Dexter Stratton, a 6-foot-8 product of San Diego City College, led CSSM with 35 points and 16 rebounds while going 13 for 22 from the floor in the two games.
The Cougars’ women’s team swept the same teams on the road to stretch its winning streak to three straight. Rory Hetrick (Torrey Pines High School, Palomar College) had 28 points and 20 rebounds in the two games.
The Aztecs’ women’s swimming and diving team won all 10 races and both diving competitions to defeat the University of San Diego 117-86 to win its 75th straight dual meet.
Diver Valentina Lopez Arevalo swept the diving events with marks that qualified her for the NCAA Regionals. Aztecs’ Summer Westmoreland (1-meter) and Taylor Konopacke (3-meter) also hit NCAA qualifying marks with runner-up performances. Kaydence Bispo (22.77 seconds in the 50 freestyle) and Alli Mann (:49.73 in the 100 free) set Aztec Aquaplex records.
The USD 15th-ranked men’s tennis team upset No. 10 Florida State to win the Florida State Regional and advance to clinch a berth in the 16-team Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Indoor National championships. Oliver Tarvet, Stian Klaassen, Savriyan Danilov and Adrien Berrut all won their singles matches.
Point Loma Nazarene’s men’s basketball program (18-4, 11-1) maintained a three-game lead in the Pac-West with a pair of wins while the Sea Lions’ women (11-5, 10-2) slipped into a second-place tie with a 60-50 loss at Vanguard.
The PLNU men, ranked No. 13 in the country among NCAA Division II teams and No. 1 in the West, defeated Vanguard (86-55) and Hawaii Hilo (64-62). Coby Barnes scored 30 points and 10 rebounds in the two games while going 9-for-19 from 3-point range. Luke Haupt had 27 points and 13 rebounds and Zackry Paulsen scored 26.
The PLNU women, who are ranked seventh in the West, defeated Hilo 61-51 after losing at Vanguard 60-50. Tavia Rowell led the Sea Lions with 23 points in the two games. Eiley Tippins had 20 points and 13 rebounds. Alli McDonald had 10 points and 26 rebounds.
The San Diego City College men and Palomar College women are now the sole leaders of the PCAC basketball races.
The Knights (16-5, 8-1) first went on the road to defeat Palomar 79-68 and knock the Comets from a share of the PCAC lead then routed Grossmont College 102-71. Sophomore guard Brandon Bento-Jackson went 10-for-20 from 3-point range for 30 points in the Knights’ two wins. SDCC, ranked 11th among California community colleges, also got 29 points and nine rebounds from sophomore guard Logan Hutson (Torrey Pines High) and 28 points and 12 rebounds from sophomore forward Marley Gonzalez (Escondido Charter).
The Jaguars, ranked No. 23 in California, scored a 105-78 win at IVC then returned home to hand Palomar a second loss for the week (78-65). Sophomore guard Ayden Lockett (University City High School) led Southwestern with 39 points and 10 rebounds in the two wins. Sophomores Julian Soares (29 points, 18 rebounds) and Jartavious Jackson (28 points, 14 rebounds) also starred for the Jaguars while freshman guard Emmanuel Barnett (Lincoln High School) had 20 points in the two games while going 6-for-8 from 3-point range.
MiraCosta defeated San Diego Mesa 59-55 after losing 54-52 at Miramar.
The Palomar College women, who are ranked 16th in the state, are 5-0 in the PCAC and 13-6 overall after routing second-place Imperial Valley 90-38 led by 15 from Angelina De Leon (Monte Vista High School) and 13 from Kylee Trujillo (Mission Hills High School).
Mesa College (14-6, ranked 15th in California) and Grossmont College (15-4, ranked 23rd) are tied for third in the PCAC standings at 4-2 after the Griffins scored a 62-58 road win over the Olympians.
