COD Women's Basketball Levels Season Record at Cougars Crossover

The College of the Desert Women's Basketball team (2-2) evened their season record after a three-game showing at the Cougars Crossover Tournament, hosted by the Los Angeles Southwest Cougars in West Adams.

Game 1: Ventura 65, COD 38
The Roadrunners opened the tournament against the Ventura Pirates, falling 65–38. Sophomore guard Giovanna Espinoza (La Quinta H.S.) led COD with 13 points on 5-of-19 shooting, going a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line while adding 5 rebounds. Freshman guard Ava Tethal (Palm Desert H.S.) and sophomore guard Audrey Tijerina (La Quinta H.S.) each contributed 7 points. Freshman forward Olivia Castaneda (Paloma Valley H.S.) pulled down 6 rebounds, while off the bench, freshman forward Syhelie Gilmore (Yucca Valley H.S.) matched that total with 6 rebounds and led the team with 3 steals. Freshman guard Mariah Figueroa (Coachella Valley H.S.) added 5 points on 2-of-3 shooting in the effort.

Game 2: COD 84, Southwestern 57
COD bounced back in the second game, earning their first win of the season with a dominant 84–57 victory over the Southwestern Apaches of Chula Vista (2-3). Espinoza once again led the way with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers, while also pacing the team with 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Freshman forward Mia Aceituno (Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian Academy) added 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Sophomore guard Audrey Tijerina (La Quinta H.S.) contributed 10 points, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Off the bench, Figueroa provided a spark with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, and Tethal drained three 3-pointers on her way to 9 points and 6 rebounds. The win snapped a six-game losing streak for the Roadrunners.

Game 3: COD 81, Palo Verde 51
In their final game of the tournament, COD kept the momentum rolling with an 81–51 win over the Palo Verde Pirates of Blythe (1-4). Aceituno recorded her first double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Freshman forward Olivia Castaneda (Menifee Paloma Valley) led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting while also dishing out 7 assists. Espinoza added 18 points, hitting 4-of-13 from beyond the arc, and collected 6 steals. Tijerina scored 10 points, while sophomore guard Dominique Moreno (Desert Hot Springs H.S.) chipped in 6 points off the bench, connecting on two 3-pointers. The win marked COD's second straight victory and broke a five-game skid against Palo Verde.

Next Up
The Roadrunners return to Palm Desert to celebrate their 2025–26 home opener at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, hosting the Citrus Fighting Owls of Glendora (0-2). This will be the first meeting between the two programs in eight years.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information provided by COD Sports Information. Story by Jake Humphries. Photo by Kaleb Welch Photography.