The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.
The Lady Bulldogs made quite a case over the weekend to vault their way up the Northern California Top 15 by sweeping through the Tom Martinez Invitational Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The College of San Mateo women’s hoopsters (9-2 overall) took it to Contra Costa College 79-69 in Sunday’s tournament finale. Contra Costa (9-6) entered the week climbing to No. 11 in the California Community College Women’s Basketball Coaches Association North Region Poll. The Bulldogs are tied with rival Skyline College at No. 15.
Not only did the Bulldogs sweep through their host tourney, they made modern history in the process. With a 104-78 win over Butte (1-9) in Friday’s opener, CSM set a 21st century program record for points in a single game. The Bulldogs then prevailed in Saturday’s semifinal 74-70 — paced by a career-high 24 points and 13 rebounds by tournament MVP Corryne Millett — holding off a second-half surge by Solano (4-9).
In Sunday’s championship finale, CSM led the entire way, paced by a pair of double-double performances. Freshman center Mariah Elzy scored a game-high 19 points and added 14 rebounds, while Millet totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Sophia Leon added 18 points. Sophomore point guard Taylor Cormier racked up eight assists.
Elzy and Millett have been quite force in the paint this season. At 6-feet, Elzy has recorded eight double-doubles this season. The 6-1 freshman forward Millett kept pace through the weekend tourney, notching double-doubles in all three games.
Elzy — named to the all-tournament team — currently ranks 16th in the state with a 17.7 scoring average and 13th in the state in total rebounds. Cormier has been one of the most prolific distributors in California, tied for sixth in the state with 5.3 assists per game.
Also named to the all-tourney team were Contra Costa’s Julian Robinson and Daizah Pounds; Diablo Valley’s Antuanisha Wright; and Shasta’s Janae Gray.
Shasta (9-8) took third place in the tourney with a 49-41 win over Solano. Diablo Valley (8-4) — ranked No. 8 in Nor Cal — earned the consolation title downing Santa Monica 73-63.
