Panthers Turn in Gritty Effort in Road Loss at Saddleback

The Chaffey College women's basketball team continued its road stretch on Thursday night, falling 64-51 to Saddleback College in a gritty, hard-fought matchup. Despite a strong defensive effort and a late push in the fourth quarter, the Panthers were unable to overcome Saddleback's balanced scoring and timely shooting.

Chaffey opened the game with solid defensive pressure, forcing early turnovers and holding the Bobcats to 12 first-quarter points. Venezia Perez, Danielle Singley, and Aerilynn Young provided early sparks on offense, helping the Panthers edge ahead 13-12 after the first quarter.

Saddleback found its footing in the second quarter, capitalizing on second-chance looks and efficient perimeter shooting to take a 26-22 lead into halftime. Chaffey continued to move the ball well but shot just 38.65 percent in the first half, keeping the margin tight but never allowing a sustained scoring run.

The Bobcats created separation in the third quarter, outscoring Chaffey 20-10 and hitting key shots from the perimeter to extend their advantage. The Panthers fought to generate rhythm but faced foul trouble and turnovers that slowed their momentum, entering the fourth quarter trailing 46-32.

Chaffey regrouped and delivered its strongest stretch of the night in the fourth quarter, producing 19 points while attacking consistently at the free-throw line. Young and Singley continued to anchor the offense, while Cali Azcuenaga added late scoring to keep the Panthers within reach. Despite cutting the margin to single digits multiple times, the Bobcats responded with timely baskets to hold off the rally.

Singley led the Panthers with 15 points, adding two assists and two rebounds in 28 minutes. Young recorded another efficient outing with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, her third straight double-digit performance on the glass. Thomas contributed four points, five rebounds and two steals, while Azcuenaga provided six points and three rebounds off the bench. Perez added seven points and six rebounds, giving the Panthers a needed interior presence.

As a team, Chaffey shot 34.1 percent from the field, 75 percent from the free-throw line, and recorded 39 rebounds. Saddleback countered with 34.5 percent shooting, six made three-pointers, and 18 points at the line, a combination that proved decisive.

The Panthers will look to regroup as they continue their road stretch on Saturday, Nov. 8, traveling to Citrus College for a 1 p.m. tipoff.