COD (2-12) moved into 2017 hosting their opponent from the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference-South Division, the Chula Vista Southwestern Jaguars (7-7), and falling to the visitors, 73-43.

Freshman center Angela Pinson (La Quinta H.S.) was dynamic in the middle for the Roadrunners, representing the offense for Desert in the first quarter, as quarter ended, the visitors were up 16-4. Both teams would go into halftime with the Jaguars leading, 35-13.

In the first half, Desert only visited the free throw line twice, but the second half saw them go to the line 24 more times as Southwestern got into foul trouble early and often. The Roadrunners would conclude the night shooting 42.3% from the line (11-26). 

The Roadrunners best quarter of the night was the fourth, where they were 5 of 14 from the field, and in the quarter score, played it a great deal closer, as Southwestern won the quarter 18-16 and the game 73-43.

Freshman starting guard Mercades Young (Moreno Valley Vista Del Lago) led the team, scoring all 11 of her points in the second half, on 4 of 16 shooting and leading the team in assists with three.

Pinson, sophomore starting forward Lexie Jackson (La Quinta H.S.) and freshman starting guard Jada Toland (Indio Shadow Hills) had seven points each. Jackson had an impressive defensive game as she collected 12 total boards and hosted her own "block party" with six blocks, Pinson had eight boards and Toland also had three assists on the night.

Sophomore starting forward Jerrica Perez (Indio Shadow Hills) had two points, grabbing nine boards and leading the team with four steals and freshman forward Yesenia Velazquez-Hernandez (Thermal Desert Mirage) came off of the bench to dish out three assists.

Information, Photos & Story provided by COD Sports Information.