Owls Upset Vaqueros, Return to Playoffs

Citrus College Women's Basketball will return to the playoffs for the second consecutive season after a 67-62 win over No. 5 ranked Glendale College.

Citrus College ends the regular season with an 18-10 overall record while going 9-5 to finish fourth in the WSC South. Glendale College goes to 23-4 overall and 13-1 to clinch the WSC South title for the sixth consecutive season.

On Sophomore Night the Owls pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history, taking down the undefeated conference leader after a hard-fought game. Both teams started the night off shooting well from the field and both the Owls and Renegades hit 4-of-7 three-pointers in the first quarter with Glendale holding a 21-19 lead.

Citrus had their best quarter of the game in the second quarter as they outscored Glendale 22-13 while not turning the ball over and forcing three turnovers from the Vaqueros. Maileeh Suasti scored eight second quarter points, while Breanna Escobedo went 2-of-2 from beyond the arc for six points in the quarter. The Owls were up 41-34 at halftime.

Citrus College continued to play well in the third quarter, outscoring Glendale by four points to add to their halftime lead, going up 59-48 with the fourth quarter remaining.

The Vaqueros made a comeback in the fourth quarter and got the Owls' lead down to just three points with a minute remaining. Kristin Morella made a great defensive effort to steal the ball and got fouled to go to the free throw line with 11 seconds in the game, up 65-62. Morella could not connect on the first free throw and missed the second free throw but outhustled everyone on the court to grab the offensive rebound before being fouled again. Morella hit both free throws to secure the 67-62 upset win.

The Owls' Sophomores shined on Friday night, led by Kristin Morella who scored 22 points on 8-of-16 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc while adding four rebounds, two steals and one assist. Sophomore guard Breanna Escobedo scored 16 points, hitting 4-of-9 three pointers, and adding game-high seven assists with five rebounds and two steals. Joleen Olia dropped 15 points with four assists, two rebounds and one steal. Maileeh Suasti came off the bench to provide 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal, while Samantha Martinez led the Owls with six rebounds while adding six assists, a game-high three steals and one block.

The Owls will travel to take on Fullerton College for the 2025 Women's Basketball Southern California Reigonals, this Wednesday, February 26 at 6 p.m.