Women’s Basketball: Roadrunners rally to knock off No. 19 East LA

Sophomore Amy Navarro posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds while freshman Sally Smith also went for 15 points to help lead Rio Hondo College to a 78-63 South Coast Conference North Division win at No. 19 state-ranked East Los Angeles College on Wednesday.

The Roadrunners have won two straight to improve to 2-2 in SCC North play and are 17-7 overall while East Los Angeles dropped to 15-9 and 1-3.

A fourth-quarter surge pushed Rio Hondo to the win. After a Kailey Gutierrez three-pointer at the buzzer, the Roadrunners went into halftime trailing 38-32. Rio Hondo responded by outscoring the Huskies 20-14 in the third quarter and entered the fourth all tied up 52-52.

The Roadrunners completed the comeback, opening the final period with an 11-1 run to go ahead for good. Smith's three-pointer with 5:37 to play gave Rio Hondo a commanding 63-53 advantage. Smith fueled the rally as 12 of her 15 points came in the fourth.

Six Roadrunners scored in double figures, joining Navarro and Smith were Donteylor Maxwell (13 points, 5 rebounds), Gutierrez (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), Candace Black (11 points, 4 rebounds), and Amanda Lee (10 points, 3 steals, 3 assists).

Rio Hondo will look to extend its winning streak on Friday (Feb. 7) when the Roadrunners travel to Mt. San Antonio College for 5 p.m. SCC North Division game.