MARAUDER WOMEN'S DEFENSE CLAMPS DOWN ON PIERCE, BIVENS SETS CAREER HIGH FOR REBOUNDS

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

LANCASTER - The Marauder women's basketball team made an emphatic home debut as it had no problems with Pierce in the opening round of the 17th Annual AVC Holiday Tournament with a convincing 75-44 victory over the Brahmas on Newton Chelette Court.

Shantanel Bivens recorded her eighth double-double of the season, including sixth in a row, as she was a dominant force inside by finishing with 24 points and pulling down a career-high 21 rebounds. Her previous career-high for rebounds was on Feb. 17, 2016 against Santa Monica when she had 20. Her 21 rebounds ranks tied for 11th all time for rebounds in a single game.

In fact, AVC which outrebounded the Brahmas 68-33 had four players in double figure rebounds, including Deja Smith (12), Kianna Cross (11) and Mystar Golden (10). Both Smith and Cross also score in double figures each with 12 points.

AVC's defense picked up in the second half by holding Pierce to only two field goals, both of which came in the fourth quarter, the final two quarters of the game. The Marauders allowed only one point to Pierce in the third quarter which was the lowest amount by any Marauder team, since women's basketball went to the quarter system a few years ago.

The Marauders led 17-6 after the first quarter and cruised from then on. The Brahmas tried to amount a comeback late in the second quarter with an 11-0 run, trimming the lead to six, but AVC opened the second half on fire and outscored Pierce, 20-1, in the quarter.

AVC will host Cypress on Saturday, after the Chargers defeated Foothill in the other opening round game.

"We have to have the same effort against them (Cypress)," AVC head coach Barry Green said.