First Half Pushes #1 Mustangs Past Hawks

SACRAMENTO (1-18) – Cosumnes River played their first home game in almost a month as they took on CCCAA #1 San Joaquin Delta College in Big 8 Conference play. The Mustangs led by double digits at the end of the first quarter and won 87-40.

In the first quarter, the Mustangs started the quarter on a 16-0 run, capped by an Alicia Jones jumper with 5:37 left. The lone points in the quarter for the Hawks came off of free throws - five by Chelsea Shirley-Ohashi and one from Alexia Hufana. The Mustangs led 27-6 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Mustangs would continue to pull away. The Mustangs would gain their largest lead of the quarter at forty-one, at 55-14, on a Donja Payne layup with thirty-six seconds left in the half.

In the third quarter, the Mustangs would hold the Hawks at arms' length. The Mustangs would gain their largest lead of the quarter at fifty four, at 76-22, on a Breeana Grigsby layup with 1:45 left. The Mustangs led 76-25 at the end of three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, the Hawks would chip away at the lead. The Mustangs would gain their largest lead of the ballgame at fifty five, at 82-27, on a Jones layup with 8:01 left. The Hawks would then go on a 13-5 run, capped by a Hufana free throw with fifty seven seconds left, to trim the Mustangs lead to 87-40.

Shirley-Ohashi had fifteen points for the Hawks. Maya Chelini had a game high twenty-two points for the Mustangs.

The Hawks shot 30% (12-40) from the field, 11.1% (1-9) from the three-point line and were 62.5% (15-24) from the free throw line. The Mustangs shot 44.2% (34-77) from the field, 43.3% (13-30) from the three-point line and 60% (6-10) from the foul line. Cosumnes River's defense forced fifteen Mustang turnovers while the Mustangs' defense forced thirty-three turnovers. San Joaquin Delta outrebounded Cosumnes River 47-28 and the Mustangs had thirty more points off turnovers (41-11) than did the Hawks.

The next game for the Hawks will be Tuesday as they continue Big 8 Conference play against Diablo Valley College in Sacramento. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm