College of the Sequoias (COS) Women’s Basketball team opened their season with an impressive 82–46 victory over Cuesta Community College, showing strong defensive energy and teamwork throughout all four quarters.
From the start, the Giants set the tone defensively blocking nearly every early attempt from Cuesta and keeping them scoreless for much of the first quarter. The Giants jumped out to a 6–0 lead following a quick interception by Guard, Demi Boykin, who passed to Kalysa Phanhsavang for a fast-break layup. By the end of the first quarter, the Giants held a commanding 16–4 advantage, capped by a three-pointer from Izabel Mendez.
The Giants continued their momentum into the second quarter. Vivian Moore opened with a three-pointer, and Boykin added a free throw to make it 20–4. Although Cuesta found a brief spark with a pair of baskets, the Giants quickly answered back with sharp ball movement and consistent scoring. A late three-pointer from Sydney Chesnut helped the Giants extend their lead to 31–18 at halftime.
In the third quarter, COS took complete control. Nyla Anderson drained a three-pointer to start the half, and the team’s quick passing led to several back-to-back scores. The Giants’ defense kept Cuesta under pressure, forcing turnovers and converting them into points. By the end of the quarter, the Giants had widened the gap to 62–36.
The final quarter showcased the Giants’ depth and endurance. The Giants added another 20 points, highlighted by key plays from Boykin, Moore, and Chesnut. Even as Cuesta tried to rally, the Giants’ defense held strong. The game ended with a decisive 82–46 win for College of the Sequoias.
Despite the victory, Head Coach Newton offered a balanced perspective on the performance.
“I’m happy we won; however, I am not proud of their performance today,” Coach Newton said. “I feel they could have done better, but right now I’m just happy they won.”
The Giants’ victory over Cuesta marks a strong start to their season and sets a promising tone for upcoming games as they continue to refine their play and build chemistry on the court.
