Vaqueros Roll Past Riverside, Extend Win Streak to Three

By: Aj Nagbe

TORRANCE, Calif. — The Vaqueros continued their winning ways, cruising past Riverside 83-50 on Monday night at the El Camino Crossover to extend their win streak to three games. 

Kaylee Lawson poured in a game-high 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including four three-pointers, to lead Santa Barbara. 

Milan Jackson added 15 points, while Aariah Fox contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. 

Santa Barbara controlled the game from the opening tip, never trailing and building a commanding 34-point lead in the fourth quarter. 

The Vaqueros shot 41.3% from the field and knocked down 11 three-pointers. SBCC's defense forced 37 turnovers and converted them into 46 points, while the bench outscored Riverside's reserves 34-29. 

The victory showcased Santa Barbara's depth, with 10 players finding the scoresheet and multiple reserves making key contributions. 

Khaya Jackson added 8 points, and Ajulene Rivera provided crucial defense in her return to action. 

The balanced attack and bench production reflected the Vaqueros' "two-and-two" philosophy of scoring and getting defensive stops. 

Coach Sandrine Krul emphasized the team's collective effort and depth.

"This was our third victory in a row, and the team is just trending up," Krul said. "It was nice because everybody got to score, everybody got in the game, and our bench played extremely well. We outscored Riverside's bench, which is always a plus for us." 

Krul highlighted the contributions of players who haven't seen consistent minutes, particularly praising Rivera's defensive performance. 

"Ajulene Rivera hasn't played in a couple of games, and her number was called, and she showed up," Krul said. "That's when I know we're good. We're locked in, everyone is coming together, and it was nice to see a lot of our players who haven't been getting the minutes be able to score, defend, and get a rebound." 

She added that the team's success stems from their unified approach. "It's going back to our two-and-two philosophy and just playing well as a team and staying locked in," Krul said. "My philosophy is when everyone produces, the team wins." 

Santa Barbara (8-5) looks to extend its win streak to four as they face Santa Ana on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. in the final game of the El Camino Crossover.