Panthers Prevail in Double Overtime Thriller Against Santa Barbara
The Chaffey College women's basketball team earned its most dramatic win of the season on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Santa Barbara City College 112-102 in a high-scoring double-overtime battle at the Sports Center. Behind a dominant night from Danielle Singley, clutch scoring in both overtime periods, and a career-high performance from Abby Hardy, the Panthers showcased resilience and composure to secure their fifth win of the season.
Chaffey opened the game with one of its strongest offensive starts of the season, shooting 56.3 percent in the first quarter to take a 22–16 lead. The Panthers continued to attack efficiently in the second quarter, getting key baskets from Niyah Thomas and sustained interior scoring from Hardy and Singley. Despite the Vaqueros' pressure, Chaffey carried a 41-31 lead into halftime behind a 52.9 shooting percentage and solid rebounding.
Santa Barbara surged in the third quarter, trimming the deficit behind timely perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities. The Vaqueros cut the deficit to 58-52 heading into the fourth quarter after scoring 21 points. Chaffey responded with poise, matching the offensive pace in the fourth quarter as Venezia Perez, Thomas and Hardy produced critical baskets to keep the Panthers in front. The Vaqueros rallied late with 28 fourth quarter points to force overtime after the teams finished tied at 80-80.
The first overtime saw both teams trading high-pressure baskets, each posting 13 points in the period. Singley and Cali Azcuenaga kept Chaffey level with aggressive drives and key free throws, while the Panthers' defense produced enough stops to push the game to a second overtime locked at 93-93.
The Panthers seized full control in the second overtime, exploding for 19 points while holding the Vaqueros to nine. Hardy delivered two pivotal baskets inside, Azcuenaga was 2-for-2 on free throws and Singley powered the offense late with seven points in the period. Chaffey's ball movement and interior defense proved decisive, allowing them to pull away for the double-overtime win.
Singley delivered a massive all-around performance, finishing with a team-high 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting while adding 15 rebounds, four assists and a steal in 44 minutes of action. Thomas turned in one of her strongest all-around games of the season with 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, six rebounds and seven assists while playing all 50 minutes. Perez added 16 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals in an impactful two-way performance.
Hardy had a breakout night, scoring a career-high 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting while adding seven rebounds. Azcuenaga provided a crucial spark off the bench with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including two made threes, while Olivia Perlin added five points and five rebounds. Castricone contributed five points, three rebounds, one steal and a block as a steady perimeter presence.
As a team, Chaffey posted its strongest offensive performance of the season, shooting 58.6 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three while collecting 52 rebounds. The Panthers also generated 27 points off turnovers, tallied 21 assists, and scored 60 points in the paint in a high-tempo matchup that demanded depth and execution at every level.
The Panthers will now prepare for another road contest, traveling to Fullerton College on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tipoff is at 5 p.m.
