Cypress Powers Past Santa Ana On Sophomore Night
Balanced Attack, Stout Defense Lift Cypress Past Santa Ana, 71–58
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
19 | 11 | 10 | 18 | 58 |
|
|
20 | 16 | 13 | 22 | 71 |
Team Stats
Santa Ana
| Game Statistics | Santa Ana | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | (19-61) | (28-59) |
| Field Goal % | 31.1% | 47.5% |
| Rebounds | 24 | 37 |
| Assists | 6 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 13 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 10 | 7 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 14 | 15 |
| Pts in the Paint | 12 | 16 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 0 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 4 | 14 |
CYPRESS, CA - Cypress College Women's Basketball (21-7, 8-4 OEC) celebrated the evening with a pregame surprise ceremony honoring Margaret Mohr, former head women's coach and current assistant coach, who dedicated 23 seasons to leading the Cypress Chargers women's basketball program. Fueled by a stellar defensive display and bolstered by three players achieving double-digit scores, the Chargers clinched a dominant 71-58 home victory against Santa Ana (15-13, 3-9 OEC) on Sophomore Night. Cypress maintained their lead through every quarter and sealed the deal in the final quarter, culminating in a 22-point surge to secure a 13-point triumph.
Sophomore Christaesha Jackson set the tone on both ends, turning in a standout double-double with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Her presence in the paint helped anchor a Cypress defense that held Santa Ana to just 31.1% shooting from the field (19 of 61). Mariah Henderson provided a steady scoring punch from the perimeter with 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting, while post player Marina Leiva added 12 points and eight boards to round out a balanced Chargers attack.
Cypress nudged in front early, edging Santa Ana 20–19 after a fast-paced first quarter, then tightened the screws defensively in the second. The Chargers outscored Santa Ana 16–11 in the second quarter to take a 36–30 lead into halftime, fueled by efficient shot-making and strong rebounding. Cypress shot 47.5% from the floor (28 of 59) for the game and began establishing control on the glass well before the break.
The third quarter continued that steady climb. Cypress limited Santa Ana to 10 points in the period and extended the advantage to 49–40 heading into the fourth. Jackson's rim protection and Leiva's work on the boards helped frustrate Santa Ana's drives, while Henderson and the Chargers' guards kept the offense flowing. By the end of the night, Cypress owned a 37–24 rebound advantage and converted that edge into 15 second-chance points.
In the final quarter, the Chargers delivered the game's defining run. With a nine-point cushion entering the fourth, Cypress outscored Santa Ana 22–18 to close it out, getting timely buckets from Henderson and Jackson while the bench contributed valuable minutes. Cypress finished with 14 bench points compared with Santa Ana's four, helping keep the energy high and the pressure constant down the stretch.
It was a complete, team-driven performance from the Chargers, who combined efficient scoring, rebounding toughness, and defensive intensity to secure an impressive home victory, providing their supporters with much to celebrate as they move into the next phase of the season. The evening concluded with a postgame celebration honoring the team's five sophomores: Sisters Honesty and Marina Interiano, Samantha Carrillo, Christaesha Jackson, and Mariah Henderson.
UP NEXT: The team now eagerly anticipates the release of the 3C2A SoCal Regionals Playoff seeding bracket as they set their sights on a strong postseason run.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on X (Formerly Twitter) @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
