header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


| Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012

It may have taken over 20 games but The Master’s College women’s basketball team is now playing its best ball of the season. The most recent evidence came Tuesday evening in Bross Gym when the Mustangs put on their best shooting performance of the year and pulled away from Concordia for an 82-64 triumph.

The victory was the club’s second in a row and gave them their first multi-win streak since late November when they tore off a season-best three straight wins. More importantly, it kept in motion a climb up the GSAC standings where they are now tied with Concordia for eighth place. That’s where the Mustangs (11-14 overall, 4-9 GSAC) need to be to earn a conference tournament playoff berth but with the way they’ve been playing recently they won’t settle for that.

It’s been an encouraging sign for Coach Dan Waldeck who, despite enduring a very difficult campaign, said the team has “consistently played hard and kept believing.”

There was proof of that during the opening 20 minutes when the clubs went back and forth in a duel that featured a pair of ties and eight lead changes. Most of those came in the first eight minutes when the squads jockeyed for position.

The Mustangs scored the first two points of the game on a Zoe Scott layup, led 4-3 on a Lindsey Levanen layup, but didn’t see the right side of the scoreboard again until the 14:07 mark when another Levanen layup gave them an 11-10 lead.

When Millie Rivera drained a three-ball with 11:32 left in the half, the Mustangs went up 16-14 and enjoyed a three-point advantage (18-15) 90 seconds later on a Morgan Schwegler jumper. But, they couldn’t shake the Eagles who answered back with a 5-2 spurt to tie the game at 20 with 6:45 remaining.

The first signs of separation, though, came on the Mustangs’ next possession when Levanen, who enjoyed a sparkling first half with eight points and seven rebounds, canned a pair of free throws that ignited a 7-0 run for a 27-20 lead with just under five minutes left. Kimmy Iverson contributed a basket and Millie Rivera buried another trey to cap off the spurt.

Although the Eagles drew to within one point (30-29), the Mustangs kept their poise and the lead, taking a 33-29 edge to the break on Ella Joines’ second three-pointer of the half.

Over the opening 20 minutes, the Mustangs hit at a 46% clip with Levanen leading the way and Lena Rivera close behind with seven points and five rebounds.

Although the Mustangs gave up the first two points of the second period, allowing the Eagles to pull within two, they answered quickly, reeling off nine straight points to take a 42-31 lead. Fittingly, Levanen triggered the run with a layup while Iverson and Scott rained down consecutive threes to finish it off.

But, the Mustangs weren’t done. After Concordia sliced the deficit to 46-38, the Mustangs galloped away again. Again, Levanen was at the forefront of the skein, connecting on a pair of free tosses that started a 13-2 tear, turning the game into a rout at 59-40 with 12 minutes left to play. During the run, Schwegler, who came up big with nine second-half points, chipped in with four points as did Whitney Best, while Joines completed the decisive burst with a layup.

Shooting a sizzling 63% from the field over the final 20 minutes, the Mustangs didn’t let up one bit, never letting the margin slip below 14 points the rest of the way. In fact, the advantage hovered around the 20-point plateau until Lena Rivera put them over it (77-56) on a jumper with 3:35 left in the game.

From then on it was just a matter of the final margin of victory with Schwegler providing that with the last four points of the evening.

Pleased with his squad’s season-best 54.5% shooting mark, Waldeck commented that the team’s “offensive adjustments are starting to pay off.”

Displaying that were five double-figure scorers led by Levanen’s 17 points. For the second straight game, Joines and Schwegler produced off the bench, tallying 11 points apiece. Lena Rivera, who along with Scott scored 10 points, racked up another double-double after grabbing a game-high tying 11 rebounds.

Following a pair of big home wins, the Mustangs take their quest for a higher playoff berth to Costa Mesa on Saturday evening where they will tangle with 12th-ranked Vanguard. The Lions, who are tied for second in the GSAC with a 10-3 conference record, beat the Mustangs 62-49 back on January 14.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The Master's University men's volleyball team took to the road and came away with a 3-set victory, 25-19, 25-16, 25-22, over the Hope International Royals in Fullerton.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Battling back from a 12-point deficit, The Master's University basketball team had the lead late but could not hold it, losing to the No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman 68-69 in the Round of 16 at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
GOLETA — College of the Canyons fielded two teams at the annual 3C2A State Preview event at Sandpiper Golf Course on Monday, with the Cougars finishing sixth and eighth in the field of 18 teams from around the state. 
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Cason Brownell had a bases-loaded double in the first and added a home run in the sixth to knock in all four runs The Master's needed in a 4-3 win over Westcliff Tuesday in Irvine.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com