Team effort leads to Rams' 50-43 win at Monterey Peninsula

MONTEREY – A fast start combined with a solid defensive effort resulted in a 50-43 Gavilan College win at Monterey Peninsula College on Friday.

It's been a tough 2025-26 season for the Rams. But despite the squad's 2-15 overall record, the Gavilan women continue to give full effort on the court. The victory snapped a 14-game overall losing streak this season and was the program's first Coast Conference South Division win since the 2023-24 season.

On Friday, the Rams opened the contest with a 10-0 run to gain momentum early. Gavilan led 12-4 after the first quarter and held a commanding 24-13 halftime advantage. MPC battled over the final two quarters but the Rams' lead was too much to overcome.

The Rams used a balanced offensive attack, with four players finishing in double figures.

Guin Lines led the way with 14 points, while Emiliana Bejarano and Izzy Cline each added 11 points. Cline knocked down a trio of three-pointers, providing key spacing and momentum throughout the game.

Lines, a sophomore, has been one of the leaders on this year's squad and was encouraged by the win.

"This win shows what we are capable of when we play together and have trust in each other," Lines said. "This win shows our growth and resilience. Even when things got hectic, we had trust in each other and stayed connected as a team."

Alexa Flores was steady and composed at the free-throw line, going 10-for-12 and finishing with 12 points. And Mariana Lopez chipped in with two points.

Defense proved to be the difference, as Gavilan held MPC to just 43 points while earning 11 steals. The Rams' defensive effort was led by sophomore Yjana Pugh, whose energy and consistency set the tone.

Pugh, who has not missed a single game in her collegiate career, anchored the team's defensive intensity and effort from start to finish.

"The key was to make it difficult for the other team," said Pugh. "Make it difficult to go by, difficult to see the hoop, speed them up. We had to do it together and we did.  We got a bunch of steals and deflections in our press and in half-court. We just had the mentality of nothing easy, no easy passes, no easy buckets, no second chances. Every time the balls are in the air, it's ours."

The Rams had to hold off Monterey Peninsula late in the contest, but the squad's resiliency proved to be the difference.

"Coming together as a team and figuring out solutions on the court was big for us," said Flores following the win. "But overall, not giving up even when mistakes happened and fighting until the last minute for a win felt great at the end."

Gavilan will look to keep the momentum going on Wednesday (Jan. 21) at 5 p.m. when the Rams hit the road again to play at Chabot College.