No. 8 Suns Race Past No. 12 Lions in DAC Opener
DALLAS – Dallas College Cedar Valley's eighth-ranked women's basketball team beat No. 12 Dallas College Mountain View, 89-64, in its Dallas Athletic Conference opener on the road Thursday night.
The Suns, who have been in the Top 10 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III rankings most of the season, picked up their fourth straight win. They improved to 5-1 on the road this season.
Cedar Valley (11-5, 1-0 DAC) raced out to a 30-17 lead after the first quarter, and didn't let up. The Suns outscored the Lions (8-6, 1-1) in the third quarter, 20-10, to bump the lead to 69-38 entering the final period. Mountain View outscored Cedar Valley, 26-20, in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough.
Four Suns starters scored in double figures, including forward Precious Jackson-Sanders, who finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and a block. She was 8 of 12 from the field, and grabbed seven offensive rebounds. It was her fourth double-double of the season, and second this week. She had 11 points and 11 boards in Tuesday's win 65-57 at East Texas Baptist University.
Guard Mia Thomas also had a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, while adding four assists and two steals. She shot 6 of 10 from the floor, and was 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Guards Deja Thomas and Carmela Hayden each scored 11 points. Deja Thomas added seven assists and four steals, while Hayden had eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Forward Ciana Fudzie finished with a season-high nine points and 14 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, and blocked two shots. Forward Vivian Nwabufo had six points, eight boards, two steals and a block. Guard-forward Keely Burks had five points, seven rebounds and two blocks.
Cedar Valley pulled down a whopping season-high 82 rebounds, including 31 on the offensive end. The Suns shot 49.3 percent from the field, going 35 of 71. They were 16-for-26 from the free throw line for 61.5 percent.
Cedar Valley will host Dallas College Richland 6 p.m. next Thursday in another DAC matchup.
