North Las Vegas, NV- In a tightly contested battle at the Coyote Event Center on January 9, 2025, the College of Southern Nevada's women's basketball team faced a challenging opponent in Eastern Arizona College, ending with a score of 66-58 in favor of the visitors. This match saw the Coyotes drop to a 12-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play, while Eastern Arizona improved to 15-3 and 6-1 respectively.

The game started with Eastern Arizona taking an early lead, closing the first quarter ahead at 15-11. The visitors' offense was clicking from the start, leveraging their sharp shooting to extend the lead. CSN struggled to find their rhythm, hampered by turnovers and missed opportunities, which allowed Eastern Arizona to continue their offensive push and end the half up 35-23.

CSN's defense had a tough time containing Eastern Arizona's Danaeja Love Romero Ah Sam, who scored a game-high 20 points, including six three-pointers. Her explosive performance from beyond the arc was a significant difference maker in the game's dynamic.

The Coyotes showed resilience in the second half, improving their offensive execution. They managed to narrow the gap, thanks to a more aggressive approach in attacking the paint and an improved defense that started to slow down their opponents. The third quarter saw CSN inching closer, but every time they seemed poised to make a run, Eastern Arizona responded with crucial baskets to maintain their lead.

In the fourth quarter, the Coyotes intensified their efforts, outscoring Eastern Arizona 19-12. CSN's Selina Gutierrez led the charge with 15 points, while Saroiya Ajomale added another 15 points from the bench. Despite their late surge, it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit fully.

Eastern Arizona's strategic execution was evident in their control of the pace and their ability to consistently find the open player. Their 42 rebounds compared to CSN's 38 underscored a slight edge in controlling the boards. Moreover, Eastern Arizona capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off CSN's mistakes, which were crucial in a game with such a tight margin.

CSN showed potential in spurts, especially in the final quarter where their defense stepped up significantly, limiting Eastern Arizona to just 27.27% shooting from the field. However, the slow start in the first half proved too much to overcome fully.

For CSN, the game highlighted areas needing improvement, particularly in reducing turnovers and improving shot selection under pressure. The team's ability to fight back in the second half demonstrates their potential and resilience, qualities they will surely build upon in future games.

As the season progresses, adapting to the challenges and learning from tough games like this will be crucial for the Coyotes as they aim to climb back up the conference standings. The focus will now shift to refining strategies and preparing for Arizona Western College, with hopes of returning to their winning ways.

Overall, while the result was not what CSN hoped for, the game provided valuable lessons that will aid in the development of the team as they continue their season. The determination displayed in the second half, coupled with strategic adjustments, will be key factors moving forward.