The Bakersfield College women’s basketball team won three games in the past two weeks, including two at the BC Crossover Tournament in the Gil Bishop Sports Center, and another on the road.
The BC Crossover took place Nov. 7-8 where the BC women went on to win both games.
The following weekend, the team went on its first road trip to Lemoore and would win that game, improving the BC team record to 4-0.
No one was prouder than Coach Paula Dahl of her squad.
“We have a lot of work to do, still, though,” Dahl said at the end of the Crossover tournament.
Although certain players did shine bright throughout the tournament, the group did exceptionally well as a team.
“What’s impressed me the most is, every night, we have different people stand up. We have a lot of depth. I’m pleased with how hard this team is working at practice, what they are making happen, and I’m really excited to see what we are going to grow to,” said Dahl.
For the BC Crossover, the team ended with a combined total of 142 points scored, outscoring its opponents by 40 points.
The tournament began Nov. 7 with Reedley playing Rio Hondo. After that, BC played Taft and won 78-51.
Khiylah Dean led BC with 17 points, making 8 of 10 attempted shots and 1 of 3 from beyond the arc. Dean also finished with eight rebounds and three steals.
Yoemma Esparza also had an impressive game, finishing with 12 points. She also led the team with three assists. Esparza had one steal and four rebounds.
Clasey Tarver and Nakia Page both scored 11 points.
Page led the team in rebounds with 13 and made a huge impact defensively contributing with five blocks and two steals.
On Nov. 8, BC faced Reedley and closed out the tournament with a 64-51 win.
Tarver chipped in with 16 points, five rebounds and three steals, carrying the team to victory.
Reedley’s biggest pitfall was all the foul trouble that ensued. Constant pressure from BC’s defense forced turnovers at pivotal points including drawing the fouls for extra points that made the difference in the game. The game went into the halway mark with BC leading 29-23.
Rosebrooke Hunt had an outstanding defensive game, contributing with 11 defensive rebounds and 15 overall. Hunt also ended the game with two block shots and three steals.
Page added 12 rebounds, 11 points, and two steals.
“I don’t think it’s about winning and losing, I think it’s about learning, every single game,” said Dahl. “We won today, but we still have to work on our composure. We are going to play some really challenging teams, every game we have to get stronger with the ball and keep working on the fundamentals I drive into practice.”
When asked, Dahl said it had been a while since the team started this hot.
“We will just keep working on what we’ve been doing. Teaching them how to get into triple threat, teach them how to play high pressure defense and run; but, not force shots, and we still have a lot to work on, but we will get there.”
Game 4 was the first away game of the season, versus West Hills, held in Lemoore on Nov. 14. BC won 80-68.
McKaiela Tyler made an outstanding show in the game, with 14 points, Tyler was 4 of 8, and 2 of 4 for three-pointers, leading the team with seven rebounds, six of which were defensive. She also had three assists. Tyler had the team high in defense with five steals and three blocks.
Page led the BC team with 18 points, her season high for a game. She had four rebounds and two steals.
Alex Green went 5 for 8 and 2 of 4 in threes for 14 points. Seventeen points came from the team’s reserves, proving once again that the bench is a force to be reckoned with.
Dean was all over the court, with four defensive rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block.
“Right now I have to process the tournament, what we have done, and get a different press, and we will be tweaking all preseason. Every game is just a practice to get us ready for conference,” said Dahl of the team’s performance.
BC returns to action Nov. 22 with a 1 p.m. home game against Taft, the same team it beat in the Crossover tournament. The Renegades then play in the Santa Ana Tournament on Dec. 4-6.