Lassen College's women's basketball
Lassen College's women's basketball team got its first tastes of defeat last weekend, losing a pair of games at the East Bay Classic Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 7-9 in Oakland.
The Lady Cougars (8-2) opened with a 95-50 win over Porterville, but followed with losses to Merritt 62-59 and Contra Costa 75-70.

"We lost two close games to two good teams. We could have won both of them," Lassen head coach Mark Nareau said. "We weren't in synch on offense in those last two games. You got to lose some time."

Everyone got into the act against Porterville. Jennifer Dillie netted a season-high 15 points and Alyson Thurman added 14. They were followed by Jamie Wagner's 12, Janelle Mack's 10 and eight points by Sarah Richards.

Lassen failed to connect on a flurry of three-pointers at the end of the game against Merritt, which it had beaten in the Reno Shootout last month. Jasmere Kirby hit for 20 and McKenzie Harrigan scored nine.

Late fouls prevented a win over Contra Costa. Kirby led the way with 22 points and Wagner had 12. Mack and Harrigan added eight points.

For the second time this year, Kirby and Thurman were named to the all-tournament team.

The Lady Cougars host Mission College at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Lassen, ranked ninth in the state and third in Northern California, travels to the Sacramento City College Tournament Friday-Sunday, Dec. 15-17. The women open with College of the Sequoias.

Lassen remains on the road through mid-January.