College of the Sequoias' Anisa Torres (10) during a game versus Lemoore College on January 15, 2025. (Photo Credit: Norma Foster / COS Athletics)
College of the Sequoias' Anisa Torres (10) during a game versus Lemoore College on January 15, 2025. (Photo Credit: Norma Foster / COS Athletics)
January 16, 2025

Despite less than ideal performance, Giants women's basketball remains undefeated and atop CVC

By Nick Giannandrea
COS ATHLETICS


California's highest scoring and most prolific shooting community college women's basketball team delivered another offensive gem.


But College of the Sequoias' overall performance – particularly on the defensive end – during a 99-52 Central Valley Conference victory over Lemoore on Jan. 15 at Porter Field House left first-season coach Tyler Newton flustered.
"No, I'm not very happy with our performance. It's the same challenge I've been talking about all season. How do we continue to hold ourselves to a high standard and play our basketball on any given night," Newton said. "We have a group of young people that kind of made their own opinions on whether they think a team is good or not good, and kinda showed up appropriately. And we have things happen like tonight. It's my job as a coach to keep chipping away and to keep us focused and motivated and trying to be the best version of ourselves."

The state's top-ranked Giants improved to 19-0 on the season – and 3-0 in the CVC – during a night they finished a point shy of the century mark and shot 54.5 percent from the field. Sequoias is averaging 87.3 points and shooting 50.3 percent from the field on the season.

The Giants never trailed, led by 18 points after the first quarter and by 37 points at halftime.
But Lemoore (6-12, 1-2) actually outscored Sequoias 20-18 in the third quarter and scored 36 second-half points. Only state No. 2 Mt. San Antonio has scored more points (44) in the second half against Sequoias this season.
"I think we definitely came out with effort. We tried," said Sequoias' Campbell Vieg (Chico), who delivered 20 points (on 9 of 10 shooting), 10 assists and three steals. "But as far as our execution goes, and our cohesion, it wasn't the best it's been. I think it's a little bit of an off day."

With a trio of reigning all-state performers in Vieg, Jocelyn Medina (Arbuckle) and Morgan Trigueiro (Caruthers) headlining a talented and deep roster, the Giants have aspirations of winning their seventh CVC title in the past 10 championship seasons, and contending for the program's second state championship. Sequoias' only state title came in 1987.
That's why Newton holds his team to such a high standard, even in an otherwise lopsided victory.

"I'm not unrealistic. I understand that we're never going to be perfect," Newton said. "But I tell the girls all the time, I'm still going to strive for that. And if we come up short while striving for perfection, we're going to be pretty darn good. I feel like if you don't try and hold yourself to a high standard, and if you come up short, it can get real ugly for you."
Medina paced the Giants in scoring with 24 points, along with nine rebounds, four steals and three assists.
Trigueiro contributed 15 points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists; Kaitlin Giacone (Eureka) had 11 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block; and Lucia Ricci (Seattle) added four points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Olivia Gill (Woodland) led Sequoias' reserves with 11 points and four rebounds. Maya McNeal (Marysville) had six points, three rebounds and an assist; Anisa Torres (Caruthers) had four points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists; Teresa Sandoval (Hanford West) had two points, a rebound and an assist; and Tylie Hatcher (Cloverdale) added two points, a rebound and a block.

First place in the CVC will be on the line when the Giants travel to face state No. 18 Fresno City (11-7, 2-0) at 3 p.m. Jan. 18. The Rams are the defending CVC champions.
It will be Sequoias first game against a state-ranked opponent since Dec. 21 when it beat No. 18 Palomar to conclude a preconference season that featured nine wins over teams in the Top 25 – including two each over No. 2 Mt. SAC, No. 3 Orange Coast and No. 4 Moorpark.

"We obviously had an amazing preseason," Vieg said. "We played some of the best teams in the state. I think we proved ourselves. But what we like to say is that we're not even close to our full potential yet. We're excited to keep working during league so that when we get to playoffs, we'll be even better than we were in preseason."

The Giants next home game is scheduled for 3 p.m. Jan. 25 against Porterville (6-12, 0-3).

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