Cuesta uses free throws, turnovers to down Vaqueros, 78-64

Maaria Jaakkola hit 3-6 from 3-point land and scored 11 points, missing her season high by one. (Photo by Ken Sciallo/Sevilla Photography)
Maaria Jaakkola hit 3-6 from 3-point land and scored 11 points, missing her season high by one. (Photo by Ken Sciallo/Sevilla Photography)

Cuesta outshot SBCC 48.3% to 36.1% and tried nearly twice as many free throws on Saturday night in a 78-64 women's basketball victory.

The Cougars (15-12, 5-3 WSC North) got 23 points from Claire Garcia and 22 points and eight rebounds from Madison Collins. They made 21-of-37 from the free-throw line, compared to 9-19 for the Vaqueros (14-11, 2-6).

Santa Barbara outscored the visitors 33-3 from the 3-point line. The Vaqueros made 11 triples (11-33) for the third straight game. Cuesta was 1-9 from long distance.

The Vaqueros committed 22 turnovers leading to 24 Cougar points. Cuesta had only 12 turnovers.

Aaliyah Pauling paced the Vaqueros with 15 points on 4-10 3-point shooting and 12 rebounds. Maaria Jaakkola and Jada Forsdick-Stevenson both hit a trio of triples and scored 11 points with five rebounds.

Sierra Cavaletto added nine points, five rebounds and three steals off the bench.

The Cougars led 25-20 after a quarter and 43-33 at halftime.

Cuesta opened the third quarter on a 16-6 run to take its biggest lead of the game (59-39) with 4:02 to go.

The Vaqueros responded with a 9-0 burst to pull within 11 but the visitors ended the quarter with a 7-3 advantage to take a 15-point lead (66-51) into the final quarter.

SBCC will host Hancock in its final home game on Tuesday at 7 p.m.