Basketball Recap: Vacaville Takes a Loss

Vacaville was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They were six points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 62-56 heartbreaker at the hands of the Pioneer Patriots. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Bulldogs of the 61-50 loss they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in December of 2023.

When it comes to explaining why Vacaville lost, don't look at Lula Kifle. Despite the final result, she posted 20 points along with seven boards and five assists. That's the most rebounds Kifle has posted since back in February of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Teagan Roser, who scored six points and 14 boards.

Kifle wasn't the only one working in the assists department: Vacaville was working as a unit and finished the game with 12 assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.

Pioneer's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Naomi Navarro, who went 10 for 21 en route to 25 points and four steals. Navarro is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed four or more in the last three games she's played. Peyton Thorpe was another key player, dropping a double-double on 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Vacaville's defeat dropped their record down to 5-10. As for Pioneer, the victory (which was their third in a row) raised their record to 7-10.

Vacaville didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next matchup, a 50-40 win against River City on the 21st. Pioneer has also already played their next contest, a 47-38 loss against Wood on the 21st.