No. 6 Palomar shocks No. 3 Moorpark with last-second three, punches Elite Eight ticket

MOORPARK, CA (3/8/2025) -- In a heart-pounding finish, the No. 6 seed Palomar College Comets stunned No. 3 Moorpark College on their home court, securing a dramatic 50-49 victory to reclaim their Elite Eight status in the 3C2A State Championship.

With their season hanging in the balance, the Comets found themselves trailing by two with under 20 seconds remaining. Freshman phenom Kylee Trujillo, who has been a clutch performer all season, rose to the occasion. With ice in her veins, Trujillo drained a go-ahead three-pointer with just three seconds left on the clock, silencing the home crowd and igniting a wild celebration on the Palomar bench.

Moorpark called a timeout to advance the ball, setting up a final play. But the Comet defense, which had been relentless all night, smothered the Raiders, preventing them from even getting a shot off as time expired.

The victory didn't come easy. Palomar struggled early, trailing by seven after the first quarter and finding themselves down by nine at halftime. But as the game wore on, the Comets found their rhythm. A third-quarter surge—fueled by aggressive drives and eight crucial made free throws—turned the tide, outscoring Moorpark 17-9 in the period.

Defense proved to be the X-factor, with Palomar forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 19 points, completely disrupting Moorpark's offensive flow. Despite being outrebounded 37-33 and losing the battle in the paint 22-14, the Comets' relentless pressure and never-say-die attitude proved to be the difference.

Trujillo led Palomar with 13 points, four steals, and six forced turnovers, while Angelina De Leon matched her with 13 points and four rebounds of her own. Teanna Alaman added 11 points and three rebounds, while Brooke Quintana contributed nine points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Now 24-6 on the season, Palomar advances to its fourth Elite Eight appearance in six years. The journey continues on Friday, March 14, when the Comets take the court at Mt. San Antonio College, with their sights set on a Final Four berth.