Keelhaulers enjoy strong start and finish at Antelope Valley

LANCASTER, Calif. – Cal Maritime and Antelope Valley enjoyed a spirited back-and-forth battle throughout the first quarter of Saturday's Cal Pac Conference matchup at the Pioneer Event Center, and the Keelhaulers doubled-up on the Pioneers in the final period by outscoring them, 16-8, but UAV's second quarter ended up being the difference in this season's series finale because CSUM was outscored by 15 in that 10-minute block of action in a game it dropped by a 76-61 final score. 

In that second quarter, UAV hit half of its 18 shots compared to the Keelhaulers who connected on 2 of 14 attempts.

Aysia Santos and Alicia Porter scored a team-high 18 points, with the latter finishing the afternoon with a game-high 13 boards; by hitting three of her four field goals from three, Marissa Serrano chipped in another 11 points.

"Just like them, we were really hot in the first quarter and enjoyed a strong start to the game," said head coach Imhotet Amen-Ra. "But our turnovers, and their points off turnovers hurt us."

Cal Maritime turned the ball over 23 times, which led to 22 points for the Pioneers.

"Marissa and Alina (Daffon) did provide us with a presence from three; the team shot 34 percent for the game, which is above the 30 percent target we set for ourselves," Amen-Ra added. "I also liked how we defended the three since they only shot 28 percent."

After splitting last week's games — Saturday's trek to Lancaster is the only game of the weekend for CSUM since it opened last week's slate with a home victory versus Pacific Union — the Keelhaulers will return home to prep for its final games of the season: at Park Gilbert on Thursday and Benedictine Mesa next Saturday.

"Like I always say: In order to become the best, you need to beat the best, and Antelope Valley is the No. 1 team in our conference for a reason. Now it's time to reset, watch film and find ways to improve before our last two games of the season."