No. 6 Palomar Advances to Sweet 16 with Lockdown Defense Against Santa Barbara

SAN MARCOS, CA (3/1/2025) -- The No. 6 Palomar College women's basketball team is moving on in the 3C2A State Playoffs, securing a 79-61 victory over No. 11 Santa Barbara City College on Saturday night at the Dome. The win marks the Comets' fifth consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, as they now prepare to face No. 3 Moorpark College on the road Saturday at 5 pm.

Palomar (23-6) showcased its defensive prowess, completely shutting down Santa Barbara's leading scorer, Kaylee Bosetti, holding her to zero points on 0-for-6 shooting. The Comets' smothering defense forced 13 turnovers and held the Vaqueros to just 15.4% shooting from beyond the arc.

Offensively, Palomar used a balanced attack to pull away. Nevaeh Mageo led the scoring with 17 points, hitting five three-pointers to stretch the defense. Kylee Trujillo followed with 16 points, connecting on three triples, while Brooke Quintana and Teanna Alaman each added 15 points, with Quintana going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Kailani Flournoy was dominant on the boards, finishing with a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds, securing key second-chance opportunities.

Palomar controlled the glass, outrebounding Santa Barbara 49-43, and capitalized on second-chance points, scoring 18 off offensive rebounds. The Comets also found their rhythm in the second half, shooting 50% in the third quarter and 46.7% in the fourth to seal the win.

With another Sweet 16 berth secured, Palomar now turns its attention to a tough road matchup against No. 3 Moorpark College. The Comets will look to extend their postseason run and punch their ticket to the Elite Eight.