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The San Diego City College women’s basketball team’s 2024-25 season is underway. The Knights have shown some glimpses of gelling but a sluggish start has them under .500, with a record of 2-6.
They look to improve on last year’s 17-12 record where it wasn’t until the Knights Invitational that the team took off, winning seven in a row. The team finished conference play with a 7-5 record earning a spot in the SoCal Regional playoff tournament as the 23rd seed.
The 2023-2024 season ended with a loss in the 1st round to the eventual runner up #10 Ventura Pirates.
Knight’s head coach Andrea Aguilar Montalban is in her thirteenth season and believes this year’s squad is “headed in the right direction” despite having to fight through a myriad of difficult situations, including injuries and missing players.
“Our trainers are amazing, they do rehab with the girls every day,” Montalban said. “We are adapting. The girls are working hard and we are making progress every day.”
While the hard work hasn’t translated into victories on the court, Montalban utilizes her coaching staff to implement her philosophy of accountability, rebounding and defense. That staff includes assistant coach Grace Campbell, strength and conditioning coach Kiley Pope – a former player under Montalban – and recruiter Connie Aguilar.
Together, the coaches hope to develop a program that emphasizes playing together, putting in the work on the court and has a regiment of supporting student-athletes.
“The girls that we brought in, honestly, what we look for is that they’re coachable,” Montalban said. “We’re looking for athletes that are ready to learn what we’re trying to do here.”
One of those new coachable players is freshman Dahlia Blake. Blake was appointed by a team vote, along with sophomore Liliana Maldonado, as captains for this year’s squad. Blake is confident that the team can turn things around in this young season.
“I think we are going to do just fine. It’s really the beginning,” Blake said. “It’s all about thinking about the next game. The point is to strategize for the next game and figure out how to win.”
The Knights played a tough stretch of games against perennial playoff teams to start the season resulting in a string of losses, dropping five of six games before beating LA Mission on the road on Nov. 15 to give the team their second win.
Guard Aamori Daniels and center Dahlia Blake combined to score 43 points against LA Mission, leading the way in scoring a 68 point team season-high. Tough defense by City held the home team to three points in the fourth quarter giving the Knights a 68-48 victory.
This year’s squad resumes play in the Knights Invitational, a round-robin tournament held at the Harry West gym at San Diego City College. Games are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. versus Cerro Coso, Friday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. versus Palo Verde, and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m. versus Saddleback.
The Knights open Pacific Coast Athletic Conference play against Imperial Valley on Jan. 8 at 5 p.m.
