SBCC Bounces Back with 48-40 Win Over Oxnard at Home

By AJ Nagbe

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Vaquero Women's Basketball team bounced back from their loss to Moorpark with a hard-fought 48-40 victory over Oxnard on Wednesday night at Robertson Gym, improving to 6-2 in Western State Conference play.

Kaylee Lawson led Santa Barbara with 14 points despite tough shooting conditions, while Jessica Chiniquy added 11 points off the bench. Siena Hoban posted six points and 12 rebounds, and Amarisse Camargo chipped in six points and seven rebounds as the Vaqueros grinded out a defensive victory. SBCC shot just 23.5% from the field and 14.3% from three-point range but excelled at the free-throw line, converting 11-of-12 attempts at 91.7%.

The low-scoring match featured four ties and eight lead changes in a defensive slugfest. Santa Barbara struggled offensively but dominated the boards, 48-23, to create second-chance opportunities. The Vaqueros forced 25 Oxnard turnovers to compensate for their cold shooting.

Coach Sandrine Krul highlighted several key performances following the victory. "The player that has to be highlighted is Siena Hoban. Her line, she had 12 rebounds, and she's just a tenacious player," Krul said. "Her effort is so contagious."

Krul praised the bench contributions, particularly from Chiniquy. "Our player off the bench, Jessica Chiniquy, played really well when we needed a bucket or a rebound," she said.

She emphasized the importance of mental and physical preparation in every game. "Our team has to be ready every single game, every single practice, because everyone wants to beat Santa Barbara," Krul said. "You've got to be prepared for that mentally and physically. Oxnard played well and took us all the way to the three-minute mark of the fourth quarter because they don't have anything to lose."

Looking ahead, Krul stressed the lessons her team is learning. "Our team is learning the lessons that you have to show up prepared mentally and physically every single practice and every single game," she said. "That's the message from here on out. We will get back to it, regroup, and get them ready for Ventura."

Santa Barbara (17-7, 6-2) travels to Ventura on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5 p.m. for their second conference matchup with the Pirates.