With a new look, the City College women’s basketball team opened a new season with a 75-62 loss to Imperial Valley College at the City College Tip Off Invitational Friday night in the Sports Pavilion.

Although the team dropped to 0-1 on the year, it finished the game with confidence and its head up.

“Tonight turnovers hurt us,” said sophomore Cheyenne Agin, who is one of only three returning players. “We have the potential to play well if we take a deep breath and settle down.”

The Vaqueros had a slow start, turning over their first four possessions.

Following a City College timeout four minutes into the game, sophomore Darya Shavaran buried back-to-back baskets, giving the Vaqueros their first points of the night.

The two teams continued trading baskets, and found themselves tied up at 13 early in the first half.

Imperial Valley slowly pulled away, getting it done with sharp shooting from the floor.

The Vaqueros relied on Shavaran and freshman Agnes Fowler Williams of Sweden to keep them within striking distance.

Williams attacked the basket several times in the first half, adding six of her 12 points to City College’s score.

With consistent shooting from Imperial Valley, and reoccurring turnovers by City College, the Vaqueros trailed by 10 points with 4:38 left in the first half.

Shavaran then headed to the bench, and the lady Vaqueros couldn’t close the gap, going into halftime down 33-23.

Shavaran immediately drove down the court and sunk an early basket in the second half, drawing a foul on the play. Shavaran converted the free throw, cutting the deficit to seven.

The team then rallied together, creating an offensive surge in which over half the team contributed at least two points.

With 10:16 to go in the game, the Vaqueros found themselves in striking distance only down by four.

The team fought hard, but couldn’t get any momentum as Imperial Valley continued to make key shots.

With five minutes remaining in the game, City College showed its inexperience, turning the ball over for the twenty-second time of the night.

Head coach Jamie Friesen’s displeasure was apparent as she took a seat on the bench shaking her head.

Shavaran finished the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Williams added 12 points and freshman point guard Talia Joyce helped out with seven.

“We had 22 turnovers and only lost by 13 points,” Friesen said. “We just didn’t execute the things we practiced.”

The lady Vaqueros walked off the court knowing there was room for improvement, but appeared satisfied with their season opener.

“With so many new faces to the team, we know that it will take some time to learn to play together,” Joyce said.

City College will see how its young team responds on the road when they face Bakersfield on Nov. 21.