SBCC Ends Victor Valley's Undefeated Start Behind Strong Backcourt Play

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Closing out the MTXE Tournament on Sunday afternoon, the SBCC women's basketball team picked up an impressive early-season win, defeating Victor Valley 53-49 behind a stellar 22-point, 11-rebound performance from guard Katrina Regalado.

Brianna Jacobs (11 points) and Isabella Jensen Williams (10) also scored in double-figures, as the Vaqueros' (2-2) three primary ball handlers accounted for 43 of the team's 53 points. They were a huge reason why SBCC had its most efficient shooting day through four games, combining to shoot 16-of-33 (48.5%) overall and 7-of-15 (46.7%) from three-point range.

It was the first loss of the season for Victor Valley (3-1), which had won each of its first three games by an average of 43 points.

"What a great game for the third day of a tournament. Tonight was about sustaining our tempo and pressing when available," head coach Sandrine Krul said. "I'm very proud of this team to go 2-1 this weekend."

Things were tight all throughout a first half in which neither team led by more than five points. Jensen Williams helped keep SBCC close by knocking down 3-of-6 three-point attempts in the opening half, but her team trailed 27-24 at halftime.

Momentum started to shift the Vaqueros' way in the third quarter, as they opened things with a 7-1 spurt. Jacobs (3-4 3FG) provided a big spark off the bench, helping put SBCC up 31-28 with five points in quick succession. Right after knocking down her second three, she was found by Regalado who threw a one-handed dime covering more than half the court for a contested transition layup. The Vaqueros never trailed again.

It was still just a two-point game heading into the final period, but another great stretch to open the fourth finally gave the Vaqueros the separation they had been fighting for. A third Jacobs triple put them up by six at the 8:28 mark.

Then, Regalado began to take over the game. She took a rebound coast-to-coast before finishing past a defender with a sweet left hand layup, forcing a Rams timeout. Another tough layup off the dribble capped an 11-0 SBCC run to put the Vaqueros up 48-37.

Regalado (9-17 FG) dropped in two more daggers before her day was done, stepping confidently into a transition three and beating her defender for a nice reverse layup off a Jensen Williams inbound pass, both times giving SBCC its largest lead of 12 points. She put in 10 of her season-best 22 points in the fourth quarter alone.

As a team, Santa Barbara finished with season-highs in field goal (34.6%), three-point (25.9%) and free throw percentage (62.5%). Forward Asia Kirven was active on defense, finishing with a Vaquero season-high seven steals to go along with six rebounds and two points.

"Victor Valley is big and quick and our players stuck to our game plan and we hit shots when we needed too," Krul said. "To come back after a tough loss against Butte shows our team is maturing and playing SBCC basketball from all 13 players. They allow us to coach them and they play so hard for each other."

After going 2-1 hosting the MTXE Tournament, the Vaqueros will close out a four-game home stand this Wednesday against LA Harbor at 6:00 p.m.