Late Run Gives Knights First PCAC Win Over MiraCosta

San Diego City put together a 13-5 run in the final three minutes to turn a 1-point deficit into a 60-52 PCAC home-opening win over MiraCosta on Friday night. Cerina Nguyen led the team with 20 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and four blocks as the Knights improved to 1-1 in conference and 10-7 overall. 

Cusha Landry had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Elissa St. Julian provided six points, seven rebounds, and five steals.

The Knights have had excellent first quarters all season long and Friday was no different with City outscoring MiraCosta, 18-8, in the first 10 minutes. Both teams shot poorly in the second quarter, but the Knights were still able to score one more point than MiraCosta and went into halfime with a 31-20 lead. 

The MiraCosta Spartans heated up in the third quarter as they shot 46.2% while the Knights had one of their worst shooting quarters of the season at 16.7%, which led to a MiraCosta rally that cut City's lead down to 40-39 by the end of the third.

The Spartants then grabbed their biggest lead of the game at 45-42 with 7:49 left, but on City's next possession, A'sontee Jackson nailed a big 3-pointer to tie the game. Nguyen then put the Knights ahead by two after a jumper.

Neither team was able to score over the next three minutes until MiraCosta's Jailyn Ibarra-Garrett three-point play with 3:02 remaining to put the Spartans up by one.

On the other end, Landry was fouled in the lane and hit both free throws to give the Knights a 49-48 lead, and she follwed that up with a 3 on their next possession to put City up by four. 

After MiraCosta got within two, Chancis Allen hit two important free throws with 24 seconds left to give City a 4-point cushion. Landry and Christina Bowen also hit two free throws each in the final seconds to secure the win for the Knights.

City ended up outscoring Miracosta by eight in the final 2:50 of the fourth quarter. 

Liliana Maldonado contributed eight points and three assists, and Jackson had six points with three boards off the bench.

The Knights' next game will be on Jan. 19 at Mesa with the tip scheduled for 5 p.m.