Lorrie Reyes
Pierce College‘s women’s basketball team began this season with high hopes to win conference, make the playoffs and build off last season’s success.
But they have taken a few hits this winter. Literally.
Injuries to captains and key sophomore players Tessondra Williams and Jessica LogoLogo during the winter break brought the women’s basketball team to 4-7, making them 3-5 in the Western State Conference (WSC) and 12-13 overall.
“We can make all the excuses in the world,” said women’s head coach Jim Couch. “The good teams play through the adversities and we just haven’t done it as of yet.”
For two weeks Pierce missed their leading scorer, Williams, due to an ankle injury.
She has returned and continues to lead the team in field goal and free throw percentages, according to WSC women’s basketball report.
However Logo-Logo, who is the team’s third leading scorer tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament and will most likely miss the rest of the season, according to assistant coach Jaclyn Johnson.
Surgery is scheduled for this month according to Logo-Logo to repair the injury. After surgery she will focus on getting back in shape to play for a four-year university.
Experienced guard and sophomore, Delia Rouse, was expected to return to the team in December once she became eligible to play.
But she has decided to wait until next year to rejoin the team, according to Couch.
With only four more conference games, the women’s team is looking for healthy bodies to put on the floor and help have a chance for playoffs.
Couch is looking to his bench to pick up the team, particularly on the defensive end with the help of inside players Habi Hanne and Taylor Reed.
Samantha Velasco, who leads the women’s basketball team in 3-point shooting, has helped keep the Brahmas afloat.
“Sam[antha] has improved one thousand percent,” said Couch. “If the team had improved over the season as much as she has, we’d be in first place right now.”
Closing out games has seemed to be Pierce’s problem all season.
During the break Pierce lost two important conference games and were swept by Moorpark College.
Pierce was up at half-time of both games, and was up by 20 points the first time they faced each other on Jan. 9.
But they couldn’t get a win in either game.
“They didn’t go away, they had more desire at that point,” said Williams in an interview after their first loss to Moorpark.
This game was supposed to be won.”
In order to have a chance to make playoffs, Pierce will have to win their next four games and get contributions from everyone for a full game.
“I still think we are a quality team in the league,” said Couch. “If we can play two halves of basketball, I think we can win all four games.”