The women’s basketball team defeated the College of the Siskiyous Eagles 79-62 on Thursday, extending their win streak to three games.
With head coach Samuel Kirby still absent due to injury, the Hawks’ defense dominated defensively, forcing 35 turnovers.
Emphasizing defensive success led to offensive opportunities on the other end, assistant coach Brittany Shine said.
“Defense first,” Shine said. “We create a lot of our offense through our defense, so we always emphasize staying together and pressuring the ball, ultimately making it tough for them to score.”
The Hawks jumped to an early 10-0 lead before the Eagles answered with an 18-0 run. Staying relaxed and confident led the Hawks to regain control, sophomore forward and center MyLeia Campbell said.
“We kept our composure and stuck together,” Campbell said. “That’s really how we got back on track and got back in the lead.”
The team outrebounded the Eagles 15-7 and shot 41.4% from the field on 29-70 shots, making 9-32 three-point shots.
The Hawks were led offensively by sophomore guard Saray White, who led all scorers with 27 points. Aliviyah McMurray, a sophomore guard, notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 steals.
Selfless play, sharing the ball and team chemistry led to offensive opportunities, McMurray said.
“We were told to move the ball around,” McMurray said. “Look for the extra pass. We don’t have to be heroes. Our teammates are open, look for the short corner and just play together.”
The Hawks took a 33-22 lead into halftime, before outscoring the Eagles 24-12 in the third quarter. Staying focused led the Hawks to regain control, coming out of the half, Campbell said.
“I feel like in the beginning, we didn’t really have control of the game,” Campbell said. “We just said, ‘keep playing and stay locked in’.”
With the win, Cosumnes River College extended its win streak to three games, outscoring opponents 239-150 over the three-game stretch.
With a 5-3 record, the Hawks now shift focus to Tuesday, where they will travel to Eureka, matching up against the College of the Redwoods, who are currently 4-4.
Staying positive and playing with a purpose is vital for continued momentum, McMurray said.
“We just have to keep the energy up and keep each other encouraged right now,” McMurray said. “Our coach isn’t here, so we’re playing for him and the players who aren’t here.”