The Panthers drop the season opener at Skyline 62-53 despite leading by 9 at the half; Jones leads the offense with 19 pts
Skyline Rallies to Defeat Sacramento City 62-53
On November 1, 2024, Skyline mounted a strong second-half performance to defeat Sacramento City 62-53 in an exciting matchup. Despite a dominant first half by Sacramento City, Skyline's relentless defense and offensive surge in the final two quarters led to their victory.
First Half: Sacramento City Takes Control
Sacramento City came out firing early, leading 18-5 after the first quarter. Kamaya Jones was the standout for the visitors, scoring 10 points in the opening period, including hitting 3 three-pointers. By halftime, Sacramento City maintained a 28-19 lead. The Lady Panthers were effective on defense, forcing Skyline into poor shooting, and capitalizing on rebounds. Joyce Mulumba also contributed, pulling down 6 rebounds to go along with 6 points.
However, Sacramento City's shooting struggles continued, finishing the first half with just 28.6% shooting from the field (9-31), including 2-10 from beyond the arc. They also missed some key free throws, shooting 64.3% (9-14).
Second Half: Skyline Makes a Strong Comeback
Skyline regrouped at halftime and came out energized. They started the third quarter with a more balanced attack, gradually cutting into Sacramento City's lead. Jazmynn Sciancalepore-Garcia led the way with 12 points in the second half, finishing the game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists. Her inside presence, along with the shooting of Alexis Cornejo and Lemoni Tillman, sparked Skyline's offense.
The fourth quarter saw Skyline outscore Sacramento City 29-11. The Lady Trojans found their rhythm, shooting 46.7% from the field in the second half compared to Sacramento City's 28.6%. Sacramento City struggled to score, managing just 11 points in the final period.
Key Performances
Sacramento City: Kamaya Jones led the team with 19 points, including 5 three-pointers. Joyce Mulumba had a double-double, contributing 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kyshanti King added 11 points off the bench. However, the team's overall shooting struggles, particularly from long range (8-26 from 3-point range), hurt their chances.
Skyline: Jazmynn Sciancalepore-Garcia was the game's MVP, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Alexis Cornejo added 9 points and 4 assists, while Lemoni Tillman chipped in 9 points and 4 rebounds. The team's overall shooting improved in the second half, and their defense was key in limiting Sacramento City to just 53 points.
Team Stats
Sacramento City: 18-55 (32.7% FG), 8-26 (30.8% 3P), 9-14 (64.3% FT)
Skyline: 22-70 (31.4% FG), 5-18 (27.8% 3P), 13-21 (61.9% FT)
