WEED – The College of the Siskiyous Lady Eagles improved to 9-4, with a solid 75-61 win over the invading Diablo Valley College Lady Vikings on Wednesday night.

COS’ pressure defense helped stake the Lady Eagles to a quick 7-0 advantage to start the game. Amber Franco opened the scoring with a breakaway lay up. Natalie Smith followed with a 3-ball to make it 5-0. Franco dished to Michelle Hoehn for a bucket, 7-0. After DVC scored, Cassidy Hammon scored for COS, and Franco found Smith on a back door cut for a hoop, upping the lead to 10 points, 12-2.

DVC battled back to come within four points, 16-12, but would not pose another serious threat for the remainder of the game. By halftime, the Lady Eagles had built a 14-point lead, 42-28.

After DVC scored to start the second half, Franco got the offense rolling again for the Lady Eagles with a trey. Smith then added another 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to push the COS lead to 18 points, 48-30, the largest margin of the night. COS maintained a double digit lead for the entire second half.

The Lady Vikings made a push with about six minutes to play, cutting the gap to 10 points, 66-56. But Smith’s fourth and final 3-ball of the game, and a hoop by Hoehn squashed any late game comeback hopes for DVC. COS went on to win 75-61.

Michelle Hoehn led a balanced COS attack with 17 points. Natalie Smith put up 16 points. Cassidy Hammon added 15, including three 3-balls, and Amber Franco had 12 points.

DVC’s Ashley Hudson led all scorers with 23 points. After returning from a head injury sustained in the first half, Jenny Kawakami had a strong second half, scoring 13 for the Lady Vikings.

COS will travel to Fresno for games January 8- 9 against Porterville and Fresno.