COD (1-8) fought hard at the Victor Valley Crossover, but the Roadrunners had to play the final 7:16 against LA Mission and the final 3:38 against Antelope Valley with only 4 players, falling in both contests.

Unfortunately, this was the 6th and 7th games of the season where the Roadrunners had no reserves on the bench and all 5 had to play the entire 40 minutes.

Desert opened up the VVC Rams Crossover in Victorville facing off with the Los Angeles Mission Eagles of Sylmar (5-3) and were lined up to win their second game of the season, but when freshman starting guard Audrey Tijerina (La Quinta H.S.) fouled out with 7:16 left in the game, that left Desert playing with only 4. The Eagles went on a 13-1 run to finish the game, tying it at 75-75 with 52 seconds left and the Roadrunners fell, 80-75.

Freshman starting guard Giovanna Espinoza (La Quinta H.S.) had her 4th 30+ point game of the season with 31 points on 11 of 33 shooting, including going 6 of 17 from 3-point range, as well as tying for the lead in steals (6) and assists (6). Sophomore starting guard Esperanza Figueroa (Thermal Coachella Valley) had her 2nd double-double of the season with 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting, including going 4 for 10 from beyond the arc, adding 10 total rebounds with 6 of those defensive boards. Tijerina added 16 points on 5 of 15 shooting, going 4 for 6 from the free throw line, as well as tying for the lead in steals (6). Freshman guard Olivia Castaneda (Menifee Paloma Valley) tied for the team led in assists with 6.

In game two, Desert fell behind early and could not recover, falling to the Antelope Valley Marauders of Lancaster (7-4), 102-50. Four starters scored in double figures and Espinoza led Desert with 16 points on 4 of 13 shooting, including going a near perfect 5 for 6 from the charity stripe, she also added 7 boards and tied for the team lead in assists with 4. Figueroa was one rebound short of her 3rd double-double of the season as she scored 12 points on 4 of 17 shooting, going 4 of 11 from 3-point range and adding 9 total boards. Castaneda added 11 points on 5 of 12 shooting. Tijerina also added 11 points on 4 of 18 shooting and tied for the team lead in assists with 4.

The next game for the Roadrunners is on Wednesday, December 18 at 5p at the Copper Mountain Fighting Cacti of Joshua Tree (8-4).

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photos provided courtesy of COD Women's Basketball head coach, Henry Nguyen.