After struggling in the first half on Saturday night, SBCC blitzed Cuesta 16-5 in the fourth quarter but still came up a basket short in a 49-47 women's basketball loss in San Luis Obispo.
The Vaqueros (12-8, 0-3) dropped their fourth straight game. Cuesta improved to 12-10 and 2-1.
SBCC managed just nine points in the first 20 minutes and trailed 22-9 at halftime. The Vaqueros won the second half 38-27 and held the Cougars without a field goal in the final quarter.
Aaliyah Pauling poured in 29 for the Vaqueros, hitting 9-21 from the field and 5-13 from 3-point country. Pauling missed her career high by two points. Maaria Jaakkola added eight points and Lauren Noggle had nine rebounds.
"In the last three games, we've been a 20-minute team and you can't win or compete being a 20-minute team," said coach Sandrine Krul. "We have to figure out a way to be a 40-minute team."
SBCC will travel to Hancock on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest.