Vaqueros drop opener at Bakersfield, 66-58

Andrea Morales recorded career highs of 19 points and eight rebounds on Saturday but it wasn't enough for SBCC as the Vaqueros fell 66-58 in their women's basketball debut at Bakersfield.

The Renegades took control with an early 8-0 run and led 37-24 at halftime.

Morales, a sophomore guard from Oxnard, hit 3-7 from 3-point range and 8-10 free throws.

Paige Nealy, a 6-2 center, scored 13 points with 12 rebounds. Mizhrua Bautista notched 12 of her career-best 13 points in the second half. Bautista and Sylvia Hoover-Purter had three assists each.

The deficit stretched to 17 points in the second half and the Vaqueros trailed 66-50 before scoring the final eight points, capped by a Morales' 3-pointer with one second left.

"We played really well in spurts but we didn't shoot well (24 percent)," said coach Sandrine Krul. "We hit our goal from the free throw line (making 26-36 for 72 percent) and I was very proud of the team in our first game.

"Everything we need to work on can be fixed, which is a blessing."

The Vaqueros will take the next two weeks off before hosting the SBCC Crossover on Nov. 14-15. They'll take on Fullerton on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. and San Diego on Saturday at 5 p.m.