The Pierce College women’s basketball team started off the season by traveling to Barstow to participate in the Hi Desert Classic basketball tournament Nov. 22 to 24, leaving with two victories and one loss.
The tournament consisted of three games for the Brahmas, playing in a win against Victor Valley College, a loss against Mt. San Jacinto College and a win against San Diego Mesa College.
In their first game of the tournament against Victor Valley on Friday, Nov. 22, Pierce came out with a lopsided victory, winning with a score of 81-43.
Forward Gasia Sarkis led the Brahmas with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Guard Monica Jackson followed with 19 points, two rebounds and one assist. The Victory Valley Rams were led by Kathleen Chidiac, who racked up 11 points, six rebounds and one assist.
Pierce’s second game of the tournament on Saturday, Nov. 23 was lost to eventual champs Mt. San Jacinto, 60-59. In a close match up, the Brahmas were led once again by Sarkis totaling 25 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Sarkis received help from Jackson, who scored 17 points and had one rebound and two assists.
The heroics of Sarkis and Jackson were not enough to stop the Eagles, however. Brittany Neely guided Mt. San Jacinto to a victory with 15 points, one rebound and two assists. Tamara Herring did her fair share, scoring 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Down in the closing seconds of the match, Eagles forward Johnette Brown scored the go ahead basket with four seconds left to clinch the win for Mt. San Jacinto.
In their third game, Pierce rebounded from their loss the previous day, defeating San Diego Mesa in a blowout 80-44. Jackson helped the Brahmas by scoring 34 points, three rebounds and two assists. Gasia Sarkis put up 27 points, 11 rebounds and three assists.
The Brahmas will next be in action on Nov. 29, as Pierce College will host a tournament that will run through Dec. 1.
