Moorpark, Calif. – After trailing throughout the first half and much of the third quarter, the Mt. SAC Women's Basketball Team pulled off a thrilling comeback to defeat No. 8 San Joaquin Delta, 59-49, on Thursday, December 19. The victory marks the first of three games in the Moorpark College Tournament, running through Saturday, December 21. With this win, the Mounties improve to an 11-3 record, while San Joaquin Delta drops to 5-5.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The game began slowly for both teams, with nine combined missed shots before the Mustangs struck first with a layup from Kiara Council. Taliyah McFerson got the Mounties on the board with a free throw, but the Mustangs extended their lead with a series of layups by Fajr Cuthbertson. Destiny King scored the Mounties' first field goal at 2:41, attempting to close the gap, while McFerson added two layups in the final minutes. However, Mt. SAC trailed 18-8 at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same for the Mounties as they continued to struggle to find their rhythm. Midway through the period, Aaliyah Youngblood sank a three-pointer, extending the Mustangs' lead to 14 points—their largest of the game—with a score of 26-12. Although both teams traded baskets from that point on, the Mounties couldn't close the deficit. Mt. SAC struggled with turnovers, allowing the Mustangs to capitalize and maintain control, heading into halftime with a 30-18 advantage.

The Mounties came out of the halftime break with renewed energy and ready to turn the game around. They dominated the third quarter, scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while holding San Joaquin Delta to just seven points and four rebounds. Basket by basket, the Mounties gained momentum with McFerson contributing several key layups and Daisia Mitchell and Alana Diaz converting crucial free throws. With just seven seconds left in the quarter, McFerson sank a layup to give Mt. SAC their first lead of the game at 38-37.

It continued to be a battle between these two teams throughout the fourth and final quarter. Ryann Riddle and Elizabeth Udeze contributed back-to-back layups, and McFerson delivered another standout performance, scoring eight points and grabbing five rebounds in the final period. Meanwhile, Cuthbertson continued to shine for the Mustangs with seven points, two rebounds, and a block. The Mounties surged ahead in the final 3.5 minutes, sealing the win with two clutch free throws from Naomi Acuna.

Throughout the game, the Mounties committed 29 turnovers, which the Mustangs turned into 27 points. Despite trailing by as much as 14 points during the game, the Mounties pulled off the victory, driven by an incredible performance from McFerson.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Taliyah McFerson (Mt. SAC): Game-high 24 points, 9 rebounds, 11-16 FG
• Daisia Mitchell (Mt. SAC): 9 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks
• Alana Diaz (Mt. SAC): 9 points, 5 rebounds, 7-7 FT
• Fajr Cuthbertson (San Joaquin Delta): Team-high 16 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Aaliyah Youngblood (San Joaquin Delta): 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block

TEAM STATS:

• Shooting: Mt. SAC – 44.0% (22-50); San Joaquin Delta - 32.2% (19-59)
• Three Pointers: Mt. SAC – 0% (0-5); San Joaquin Delta – 18.8% (3-16)
• Free Throws: Mt. SAC – 78.9% (15-19); San Joaquin Delta – 66.7% (8-12)
• Rebounds: Mt. SAC – 43; San Joaquin Delta – 31
• Turnovers: Mt. SAC – 29; San Joaquin Delta – 20

UP NEXT:

On Friday, the Mounties will compete against No. 16 ranked Fresno City (8-4) at 1:00 PM.

STAY CONNECTED:

Follow Mt. SAC Women's Basketball on Twitter @MtSAC_WBKB or Instagram /mt.sacwbk/

Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on Twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics

For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.