LA Southwest falls at Antelope Valley, 66–49, despite late push

LANCASTER,CA. — LA Southwest stayed within range early, but a strong second quarter by Antelope Valley created separation in a 66–49 Cougar road loss. The Cougars trailed 14–10 after one, capped by a jumper from Rian Dillihunt at the first-quarter buzzer (0:00), but were outscored 24–15 in the second to fall behind 38–25 at halftime.

Emaya Trahan opened Southwest's scoring with a layup at 8:20 of the first quarter (2–2), and Destiny Hurt-Floyd added a late bucket at 1:16 (8–12). Dillihunt's last-second jumper closed the quarter at 10–14. In the second, Kelis Jones connected on a jumper at 8:28 (12–18), drilled a three at 7:10 (15–22), and added another jumper at 3:25 (23–30). Dillihunt knocked down a three at 6:04 (18–22), Reaganne Agsalud scored at 4:09 (21–27), and Lailah Whittle made two free throws at 0:27 to send the Cougars into the break trailing 25–38.

Southwest continued to battle in the third quarter. Hurt-Floyd scored at the line at 9:11 (26–38), Trahan hit a jumper at 7:48 (28–40), and Jones added another basket at 5:04 (30–42). Dillihunt closed the quarter with two free throws at 1:30, trimming the deficit to 32–46 heading into the fourth.

In the final period, Hurt-Floyd opened with a layup at 9:14 (34–46), followed by a jumper from Lluvaster Hernandez at 8:10 (36–48). Trahan scored inside at 6:09 (38–52) and again at 4:47 (41–54), then added a jumper at 2:53 (43–60). Dillihunt converted two more free throws at 2:10 (45–64). Hernandez finished at the rim at 1:08 (47–66), and Whittle closed the scoring for the Cougars with a put-back at 0:24 (49–66).