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Imperial Valley College's Sophia Leyva attempts a layup as she jumps past a MiraCosta defender during Wednesday¿s game at IVC. (FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO / January 23, 2013) |
IMPERIAL — Hustling the entire game but facing too much firepower from the visiting MiraCosta College Spartans, the Imperial Valley College Arab women’s basketball team made their Pacific Coast Conference home debut Wednesday, falling to MiraCosta, 64-38, at the DePaoli Center.
“We didn’t play smart basketball … too many ups and downs. … We’re a lot better than what we showed tonight,” said sophomore center JoAnn Valdivia from Brawley.
First-year coach Andrew Robinson agreed with Valdivia, noting that the Arabs have had problems getting shots to fall all season.
“We’ve been trying to play hard but sometimes we don’t play very smart,” Robinson said. “We have to work on the details of the game.”
Robinson came to the IVC campus two years ago to assist men’s coach Tyson Aye and took over the women’s program late last spring. The returning players appreciate their new coach’s style.
“It’s better this year,” said sophomore forward Natalie Martinez. “He focuses on each one of us as an individual and what we can do. … I’ve learned a lot this year.”
Martinez sank a pair of three-pointers for the Arabs.
“I’m supposed to look for the post but it wasn’t open much tonight, and I take the shot if I’m open,” Martinez said.
Calexico freshman Andra Farias led the Arabs with nine points and a three-pointer. Another former Bulldog, sophomore Sophia Leyva, had eight points, including two treys. Valdivia also scored eight points.
Friday night IVC (3-11 , 0-4 PCC) travels to San Diego City College to play the Knights.
“We need to get our first conference ‘W’ and we play pretty well on the road,” Robinson said. “We didn’t get much of a chance to recruit or work with the girls in the off-season but I’m seeing improvement.”
Sophomore Jocelyn Riley from Imperial is seeing that progress, both in her own game and the team.
“I feel like I’m making progress and I believe we have a strong coach,” Riley said, “Including high school, this is my third coach in three years and they all have different methods, and it’s up to the team to adjust.”
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