COC Goes 1-2 At Mt. SAC Tip-Off

WALNUT, Calif. - The College of the Canyons women's basketball team went 1-2 at the Mt. SAC Tip-Off over the weekend.

The Cougars opened the 2012-13 with a first-round loss to last year's state runner up, Foothill College, 88-82. The Cougars squandered a 12-point lead midway through the second half en route to their first loss of the season. Freshman Keiona Mathews led five Cougars in double figures with 24 points and Hope Smith had 13 rebounds.

In the second game, College of the Canyons evened their record at 1-1 with a 107-40 victory over Compton in the Consolation Semi-Finals of the Mt. SAC Tip-Off Tournament. Freshman Earnika Clemmons came off the bench to lead the Cougars with 28 points. Kiki Mathews chipped in 22 and Casey Scheller had a career high, with 16 off the bench.

In the Consolation Championship, San Bernardino Valley jumped out to a 24-3 lead to cruise to a 74-51 drubbing of College of the Canyons. The Cougars were unable to solve the pressure of San Bernardino Valley, committing a total of 41 turnovers in the game. Mathews scored 20 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Canyons will travel to Ventura College to compete in the Ventura-Kiwanis Tournament on Nov. 23-25.