Citrus Steamrolls Past Saddleback

Citrus College came out shooting on all cylinders to open the 2021-22 campaign with a 97-45 victory over Saddleback College Friday at the Mt. SAC Tip-Off Tournament.

The Owls start the year 1-0, while the Bobcats begin the year in a 0-1 hole.

As a team, Citrus shot 54.8-percent from the floor (40-for-73), including a 40.0-percent performance from beyond the arc. The Owls also dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Bobcats 44-to-27.

Four Owls finished the game in double figures, led by Katherine Goostrey with 24 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of her collegiate career. Reanne Reola followed with 20 points (8-for-13) and had six assists and seven steals. Giselle Garcia-Nunez was almost unstoppable with 19 points on an impressive 9-for-10 shooting performance and snatched 10 boards, while Tiffany Hall added 14 points.

The Owls exploded out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter before the Bobcats could catch their breath. Hall got the ball rolling after stealing the ball away and laying it in for an easy layup and Garcia-Nunez capped the scoring spree with a jumper after grabbing an offensive board.

Saddleback tried to keep things close, but Citrus closed the quarter with a trey from Goostrey and a layup from Reanne Reola to hold a 19-6 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

The Owls carried the momentum over into the second quarter and created more separation after back-to-back triples from Goostrey and Krystle Medrano put Citrus up by 21 points, 40-19.  

Leading 45-22 at the break, Citrus kept firing and opened the second half on a 17-0 run to take a commanding 62-22 upper hand.

Saddleback tried to contain the Owls but couldn't keep pace as Citrus steamrolled to the 97-45 victory.

The Owls take on host Mt. San Antonio College next in the Tip-Off Tournament, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday with a spot in the championship game on Sunday on the line.