Women's Basketball returned to the hardwood for the first time in 23 days and dropped their 2022 Western State Conference opener at Santa Barbara City, 65-40.  The effects of the long layoff were on full display early in the game as the Cougars fell behind, 19-5, in the first quarter.  Cuesta bounced back to outscore the host Vaqueros in the second quarter, 16-13, but were unable to close the gap.  The setback drops the Cougars back to .500 overall at 7-7 and to 0-1 in WSC play.  The contest also marked the first time this season that Cuesta did not have a player score in double-digits.  Freshmen Olivia Missler (Atascadero: Mission Prep) and Julia Carney (SLO HS) both netted seven points in the game to lead the team.  Three players each added six points to the Cougars' cause, including Mary Joe Rodriguez (Delano), who also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.  

The Cougars scheduled contest for Allan Hancock this Saturday has been postponed until February 7.  Cuesta will be back on the home floor next week with three WSC games at Stork Gym.  They shall play a make-up game with Oxnard on Monday (3 PM), before playing their regularly scheduled games against Pierce on Wednesday (7 PM) and #5 Moorpark on Saturday (3 PM).