North Las Vegas, NV - The College of Southern Nevada's women's basketball team faced a tough challenge at the Coyote Event Center in North Las Vegas, succumbing to a 82-63 defeat against Cochise College. This game, a critical part of ACCAC play, saw the Lady Coyotes' record move to 16-7 overall and an even 6-6 in conference. The match underscored the resilience of the team despite the challenging odds, and sets the stage for their next engagement with Central Arizona College on February 12th in Coolidge, Arizona.
Cochise College took command early on, establishing a lead in the first quarter that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. The first quarter ended 22-15 in favor of Cochise, setting a tone of urgency for CSN. The Lady Coyotes fought to bridge the gap but found themselves trailing 38-29 by halftime. A spirited third quarter saw CSN slightly outscore Cochise 17-14, hinting at a potential comeback that ultimately fell short in the fourth quarter as Cochise pulled away decisively.
Saroiya Ajomale led the CSN scoring efforts with a commendable 23 points, along with pulling down five rebounds and distributing two assists. Her leadership on the floor was evident as she tried to rally her team in critical moments. Adrienne Puletasi also made significant contributions, particularly on the boards, where she grabbed a total of 10 rebounds to go with her 15 points, underscoring her importance in the paint.
Trysta Barrett added another dimension to CSN's game with seven points and a solid defensive effort that included one steal and one block. Faith Mersburgh, although only scoring three points, facilitated the offense with eight assists, showcasing her role as a playmaker.
The statistical tale of the game reveals areas of struggle and potential growth for the Lady Coyotes. Shooting 44.6% from the field, the team was competitive, but a mere 23.5% from beyond the arc and 45% from the free-throw line highlighted critical weaknesses. Rebounds also told a story of challenge, with CSN gathering 33 rebounds to Cochise's 54, indicating a need for improvement in physical matchups and positioning under the basket.
As the Lady Coyotes look to their next matchup against Central Arizona College, refining their shooting accuracy, especially from the free-throw line, and enhancing their rebounding strategies will be key focal points in practice sessions. The team remains optimistic about their ability to turn insights from this loss into actionable strategies for future games.
CSN continues to show promise with a roster brimming with talent and determination. The upcoming games in the season schedule will be crucial in defining their path in the ACCAC standings and beyond, as they aim to make a significant impact in the conference tournament later in the season. With resilience as their guide, the Lady Coyotes are poised to face their challenges head-on, aiming for growth and success in each contest.
