Playing an away-game proved to be no issue for the Santa Monica College Lady Corsairs who came up winners. Despite struggling through part of the first half of the game, they won by a score of 62 to 55 over the Los Angeles Valley College in Valley Glen.

The Corsairs were not as dominate against Los Angeles Valley College as they were last week against Long Beach with their 75-50 win. But the defense rose to the occasion again and they won by seven points to take the season opener.

They are 1 - 0 on the season.

Los Angeles Valley College lead in the middle of the first half by a score of 17 to 9. But the Corsair defense stepped up with rebounds and steals to take the lead late in the first half. Their lead vacillated for the rest of the game. At times throughout the second half the Corsair lead diminished to a low of two points. But in the end, the Ladies of Santa Monica Basketball proved to be victorious.

Freshman, Chantell Diaz believes that the turning point of the game was the middle of the first half when the Corsairs were trailing. " We were kind of slow in the beginning but we picked it up. I think we worked really hard tonight," said Diaz.

We've got some work to do. We are still good defensively and they kind of slowed us down. But in the second half we put the full court pressure on. Other than that, we take the win, said Head Coach Lydia Strong.

The Lady Corsairs' next game will be at Santa Monica Pavilion on Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Tickets are $5 adults and teens 13 and older, $3 for senior citizens 55 and older and youth ages 3 to 12. Free for SMC students with ID and children under 3. Call (310) 434-4311 or (310) 434-4310.

The Corsair's complete basketball schedule is on the SMC website at http://www.smc.edu/womens_basketball/schedule.htm