Vaqueros Battle to Final Possession, Fall at Allan Hancock

SANTA MARIA – Forward Asia Kirven led the SBCC women's basketball team in scoring for the third straight game, but Allan Hancock used a big second half to defeat the Vaqueros 50-46.

SBCC (7-10, 2-1) held the Bulldogs (9-7, 1-0) to just six second quarter points to take a 26-21 lead into halftime. A Brianna Jacobs jumper to open the second half gave the Vaqueros their largest lead of seven points. Allan Hancock ended the third on a 14-4 run though, seeing its lead grow to seven midway through the fourth quarter.

The Vaqueros kept the Bulldogs without a point for more than six straight minutes in the fourth. Kirven scored inside with 3:09 remaining to bring them within three points, and Jacobs cut the deficit to one, 43-42 with a layup at the 1:29 mark.

Allan Hancock turned it over on its next possession, leading to an Isabella Jensen Williams that put SBCC back up by a point. Trailing for the first time in the fourth period with under a minute to go, the Bulldogs missed a three-pointer but reeled in the offensive rebound to get a second chance. Alijah Paquet's then hit a go-ahead three-pointer with :37 ticks left on the clock, giving the home side a 46-44 lead.

Santa Barbara couldn't score on its next possession and the Bulldogs made clutch free throws with 10 seconds left to make it a two-possession game and push their lead out of reach.

Kirven finished with 16 points on 8-of-17 from the field. Jensen Williams and forward Trinity Scott both scored nine points. The Vaqueros were without point guard Katrina Regalado for the third time this season. Jacobs earned her second start of the year, ending with six points in her second game back since missing six of the previous eight.

On Saturday, SBCC comes home to host LA Pierce at 7:00 p.m. at the Sports Pavilion.