Cougars' Comeback Falls Short in loss at GCC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College women's basketball team lost 52-51 at Glendale CC on Dec. 7 in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference contest. Sophomore forward Genesis Adams led SMCC with 28 points and 12 rebounds, but SMCC's gallant fourth-quarter comeback came up a basket short as they fell to the Gauchos. 

Trailing 45-30 at the start of the fourth, SMCC rallied behind key baskets from Adams, Hailey Connor and Andrea Willeto. The Cougars pulled to within 52-51 after a pair of Willeto free throws with less than a minute to play. 

GCC drained the clock under five seconds before an SMCC foul sent them to the free-throw line, where the Gauchos made one of two. Adams grabbed the second miss, but the officials ruled she traveled before a timeout was called and awarded the ball to GCC. With less than a second left on the clock, the Gauchos inbounded the ball and ended the game. 

Adams was a force inside all night, finishing 10-of-16 from the field and 8-of-12 from the free throw line. She had six offensive rebounds and six on the defensive glass while adding two blocks, a steal and an assist. 

Willeto and Connor each posted six points in defeat. Willeto had six rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Connor had four rebounds, an assist and a crucial 3-pointer. Freshman Nyese Jones recorded three points, seven rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. 

SMCC shot 37 percent (17-of-46) from the field and 68.2 percent (15-of-22) from the free throw line. The Cougars grabbed 41 rebounds, 11 assists, five blocks, and six steals.