The East Union High girls basketball squad brought out the best in Sierra Friday at the Dablen Center.
The Lancers relied on the inside tandem play of Donja Payne and freshman Ala Tuuga and the outside shooting of Julia Vezaldenos, who hit a big 3-point basket, in the 58-52 Valley Oak League clash.
"We did a good job of sharing the basketball tonight," said East Union coach Jim Agostini.
Payne, who was in foul trouble early on, was still a factor with nine blocks to go with her 13 rebounds, four steals and seven points.
"We tried to sandwich (Payne) by double-teaming her," Timberwolves coach Larissa Founts-Bergerson said in trying to contain EU's 6-foot-3 standout senior.
Sierra (1-5 VOL, 11-9 overall) strung together several scoring runs after trailing 19-4 in the first quarter to make the game close.
East Union (4-2, 13-7) jumped out to a great start thanks in part to Tuuga and fellow freshman Lauren Pablo, who delivered three 3s in that opening stretch.
As a team, the Lancers put together a stellar shooting performance from beyond the arc, hitting eight 3s.
The Timberwolves countered with an 11-3 run in the second quarter. Natalie Dias scored on a put-back while Inessa Villanueva buried a pair of 3s.
Down 32-20 at the intermission, Sierra made up ground in the third on baskets by Dias, Dulce Cruz, Perla Valdovinos and Jordan Hayter, who also helped her team with her play-making abilities.
Villanueva's shot at the end of the third trimmed the deficit, 39-36.
Hayter opened the fourth with a drive to the hoop, pulling the Timberwolves even closer, 39-38.
East Union answered by scoring 12 unanswered points. Payne, who sat out much of the third, delivered an interior pass off a spin move to Tuuga for the inside hoop.
Sierra came back again with Cruz scoring the and-one free throw to complete the three-point play and Hayter, who also assisted Cruz on another basket, nailing a trey off a steal while pulling her team closer in the final minute, 56-50.
The Lancers closed the game out with free throws by Payne and Tuuga.
"I'm happy with each and every one of them," said Founts-Bergerson of her team's hard-fought effort. Cruz led the way with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block. Hayter chipped in with 14 points, five boards and two steals.
Dias hit for 10 with six boards, two steals and a block. Villanueva had eight points, five rebounds and a steal.
For Sierra, Tuuga had a standout game with a game-high 17 points, seven boards and four steals. Pablo and Vezaldenos both hit for 10 and Nina Murphy hit for eight.