Women’s Basketball Drops Home Opener

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College suffered a 54-44 South Coast Conference crossover loss to visiting Rio Hondo on Friday night at the ECC Gym Complex.

The Warriors got 17 points from freshman Christiauna Taylor and grabbed 54 rebounds as a team but it was not enough as the Roadrunners pulled away late.

Leah Richards recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes off the bench and Malani Calbert led all players with 19 rebounds and added two blocks on the defensive end.

The Warriors fell behind 14-6 after the first quarter but stormed back in the second quarter to tie things up at 19-19 heading into the halftime break.

The Warriors would take their first lead of the game with 4:02 left in the third quarter as Maya Kelley hit one of her three 3-pointers of the game to put ECC up 31-30. A free throw by Taylor would put the Warriors up 36-35 with 1:02 left in the period but that was the team's last lead of the game as the Roadrunners outscored the Warriors 19-8 in the final 11 minutes of action.

Turnovers and missed free throws proved costly for the Warriors as the Roadrunners scored 21 points off 28 ECC turnovers while the Warriors also missed eight free throws on the night.

The Warriors will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 19 with a road game at Irvine Valley.