COD Women’s Basketball plays a strong first quarter vs. Tartars, falls 65-46

COD (0-12) started 2019 with a bang as they opened up the New Year at home, taking an early 18-15 lead at the end of the first quarter, but turnovers and second chance points proved to be a problem, as the Compton Tartars (1-11) won, 65-46.

In the first quarter, Desert built up their biggest lead of the game on a layup by freshman starting forward Kiley Pitts (Yucca Valley H.S.) with 6:40 left, giving the Roadrunners an 11-4 lead. The Tartars would get back into the game quickly with an 8-2 run to make the score 13-12 with 2:45 left and Desert would close the first quarter on a 6-2 run and end the effort with an 18-15 lead.

The final time the game was tied, was with 3:52 left in the second quarter when the game was knotted at 23-23, then Compton would go on a 7-0 run to close out the first half and never look back, taking a 30-23 lead at the break.

Unfortunately, throughout the game, Desert turnovers dictated the pace, as the Roadrunners committed 39 of them and second chance points under the Tartars basket making for consistent trouble for Desert. Compton would add 23 second chance points, compared to the Roadrunners 11 points underneath the net.

Sophomore starting center Destiny Frazier (Blythe Palo Verde Valley) secured her second double-double of the season, led the team with 13 points on 5 of 14 shooting and 12 total rebounds and had two blocked shots on the evening.

Sophomore starting guard Vanessa Madera (Thermal Coachella Valley) and sophomore guard Kiera Duran (Garden Grove Bolsa Grande) both contributed nine points each. Madera went 2 for 7 shooting from the field and went 5 of 6 from the free throw line, leading the team in steals (3) and assists (6). Duran, celebrating her birthday, went 4 of 11 from the field, hitting the only three-point shot of the night for the Roadrunners and grabbed seven total boards, while adding two blocked shots.

The next game for Desert is Thursday, when they travel to the San Diego City Knights on January 10, for the San Diego City Crossover Tournament. The last time the Knights and Desert faced off, which was in 2017-18 season, the game ended in a narrow Knights victory in Pam Desert, 54-53, the game in San Diego starts at 5 p.m. The next home game for Desert is Wednesday, January 16 when they host the Grossmont Griffins of La Mesa, the last time the Griffins visited the Desert, which was in 2017, the game ended in a hard fought 76-60 loss, game starts at 5 p.m.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).