Warriors Bounce Back in Another Close Game

Westcliff women's basketball team was looking to bounce back after their most recent overtime loss.

They traveled to La Sierra University this past weekend searching for ways to better close out games and get those wins to climb the standings.

It was another close game, but this time the Warriors would celebrate as they won by the tiniest of margins, 70-68.

The game was up for the taking for all 40 minutes as every quarter would end with the score being a one-possession game.

Head coach Kyle Rouse shared his thoughts after the game: "La Sierra is always a tough battle, especially playing at their place. We knew we would bounce back but we knew it would be a battle."

Westcliff was in the lead for most of the first half and took the lead by as much as eight points in the second quarter.

La Sierra tried their best and was able to close the gap in the scoreboard by the end of the first half.

Heading into the locker room Westcliff had a one-possession advantage, 32-29.

For much of the second half, it was a constant back-and-forth battle where La Sierra would score, and then Westcliff would have an answer right back.

With under a minute left to play the Warriors felt the momentum of the game shift in favor of La Sierra, and as the score got closer.

But some clutch free throws by Trinity Vasquez at the end of regulation gave Westcliff just enough to survive.

Coach Rouse had to depend on his bench as the team was missing some players.

"This just shows how deep we are," said Rouse. "If we can keep holding people 16 and under we'll be fine."

With the win, the Warriors continue their journey to try and get the number one seed in the Cal Pac Conference.

They sit in third place with only one more loss from the Antelope Valley's first-place seeding.

As we reach the later stages of the basketball season, every game starts to have more importance to Westcliff.

Coach Rouse knows this team is built to be at the top of the standings, but they will only go as far as their defense as scoring takes them.

"Keeping the defense where it's at. If we can play team basketball I don't care who scores, you present a good problem for a lot of opponents."

Three players scored in double digits, all of them scoring 14 a piece.

Vasquez had 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Valisa Millhouse contributed with 14 points, five rebounds, and two steals.

Off the bench, Polina Kovaleva had a solid performance in 17 minutes of play. She finished with 14 points, two rebounds, and two steals.

Up next the Warriors will travel to UC Merced looking forward to building off their current win and making a push toward the top of the conference standings.

The game will be on Feb. 2, with the tip-off at 5:30 PM.