Sophomore Darshana Taafua (Western HS) and freshman Lupe Cruz (South East HS) both posted double-doubles to help lead the Long Beach City College women's basketball team to a 66-52 South Coast Conference South Division win over visiting Los Angeles Southwest College on Wednesday night at the Hall of Champions Gym.
With the win, Long Beach improved to 12-7 overall and 2-2 in SCC South Division play.
Long Beach made just 10 of 33 field goals and was 4 for 12 at the free throw in the first half as the Vikings were down by one, 26-25, at the break.
With the score tied at 29 early in the second, LBCC responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead for good. Sophomore Armani Wiley (Jordan HS) nailed a three-pointer to open the run while Cruz added three points, two rebounds, and a block to pace the surge and the Vikings were ahead 39-29 with 15 minutes to play.
L.A. Southwest (5-13, 1-3 SCC) got within two points at 45-43 at the 10-minute mark after a three-pointer by Shymane Callahan, but would get no closer. The Vikings scored 13 of the next 15 points, including six points by Taafua, to put the game out of reach.
Long Beach used its height advantage to dominate the inside, the Vikings outrebounded the Cougars by a 66-42 margin. LBCC scored 30 points in the paint and added 30 second-chance points.
Taafua led LBCC with 15 points to go with 10 rebounds while Cruz had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Kayla Sii (Lakewood HS) added 10 points and six rebounds while freshman Jakarra Waddell (Burroughs HS) chipped in with six points and 12 boards.
Kimberly Pickett led the Cougars with 25 points while Callahan added 17 points and eight rebounds.
Long Beach returns to action on Friday (Jan. 23) at 5 p.m. when it hosts No. 4 state-ranked East Los Angeles College in a SCC interdivision game.
