The Los Medanos Mustangs women’s basketball team pulled off a comfortable win against Napa College at home in a fierce but dominant showing January 30. Throughout the season the team has built their reputation as a gritty team that can be a challenge for even the toughest opponents.
From the jump this game was a defensive battle, both sides fighting for every single point. From the beginning it was clear that LMC wanted to keep the score low.
I feel like we came out with [it],” said LMC Head coach Mario Pharr. “Started it early. High intensity, high effort, high energy from the jump.”
This strategy paid off, as Napa was not able to move the ball as much and were not able to utilize their size for points. Whenever there was an opening for a pass or an open shot it wasn’t open for long as LMC would press and take away the option.
On the attack LMC was a little shaky at the beginning, struggling to put up points from inside the paint, but as the game wore on they got into a rhythm. At the end of the first quarter the Mustangs led the storm 13 to 11. But they found their stride during the second quarter where they held the storm to just four points, enabling LMC’s offense to kick into high gear during the second quarter, putting up 15 points to grow their lead to 28 to 15.
The crown jewel of the Mustang offense was No. 2 Eve Monzon, who put up a dominant 26 points in 38 minutes of play. “It was just a huge jump compared to the last one,” said Monzon after the game. “Like offensively we were using the whole shot clock, moving the ball around, making sure everybody gets touches.”
With 5 threes on 7 attempts, Napa had to respect Monzon from far, opening up the key for the Mustangs to take advantage. This combination was deadly, and as LMC learned the defense, they only accelerated their play.
“Given that Napa had size, we were going to have to shoot from the outside a little bit more.”
Coming back from halftime, however, Napa came to play. The storm put up 20 points in the third quarter, an offensive surge that almost doubled the entirety of their first quarter points. LMC matched the intensity however and maintained their lead 46-35.
Going into the fourth quarter needing to maintain their lead, the Mustangs hung strong and maintained their offensive momentum to finish 67-55 over the storm, proving their dominance on the court.
LMC’s No. 12 Rayona Jackson in particular kept the pressure on all through the end of the game. During the fourth quarter she stole the ball for an easy 2 points that the crowd erupted for.
“It was an adrenaline rush,” Jackson said. “I take everything from my teammates, from the fans, from my coach and then I share the fuel with all my teammates on the court.”
The speed and maneuverability was on LMC’s side in this matchup, making up for what they lack in height. Physicality is also a big part of LMC’s game, and the improvement on fouling over the course of the season is very evident.
“I want to be gritty, I want to be intense,” said Pharr. “But I think we’re known now to be kind of too handsy, too aggressive. We used to be a lot more undisciplined than we are now.”
Overall the Mustangs have been fouling less and giving up less points to free throws.
The team looks forward to a potential post season run, which could still happen depending on how other teams perform. No matter what the team is determined to finish out the season strong.
“We are coming for playoffs,” said Jackson. “That’s all I can say.”
