Strong second half lifts Bulldogs to season-opening win over MPC
SAN MATEO – The College of San Mateo women's basketball team got the 2022-23 season off to an impressive start. On Tuesday, the Bulldogs erased a halftime deficit to defeat visiting Monterey Peninsula College by a final score of 54-40 in both teams' season-opener.
Leading 12-6 after the first quarter, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing by two points, 23-21, at halftime. But CSM went on to outscore Monterey Peninsula by a 33-17 margin over the final two quarters to cruise to the non-conference victory.
Sophomore Tiare Novero-Paaga, one of just three returners from last year's squad, had a good opening game. She sank a pair of 3-pointers on her way to a team-high 12 points and 6 rebounds.
Sophomore Jillian David came off the bench to score 10 points while freshman Jayonnah Carter totaled 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a pair of steals.
Freshmen Arianna Jordan and Joslyn Moore both contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds each.
Under head coach Michelle Warner, the Bulldogs will look to make their second straight trip to the postseason. Last year (2021-22), CSM compiled a 15-10 overall record and reached the second round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs.
San Mateo, now 1-0, returns to action on Saturday (Nov. 5) when the Bulldogs host Gavilan College in a 3 p.m. non-conference game.