Stanton University Women's Team Wins First Game Ever

Sometimes the hardest path leads to the sweetest victory, and the Stanton University Lady Elks just proved it.

After an intentionally brutal 0-14 start to their season, the young basketball program earned its first-ever win Saturday night, defeating Pacific Union College 44-40 in Anaheim. The victory wasn't just their first of the season. It was their first California Pacific Conference win in program history.

The Lady Elks didn't stumble into that 0-14 record by accident. Coaches deliberately scheduled powerhouse NCAA opponents all season to push their players harder, knowing the losses would hurt but the lessons would last.

On Saturday night, all that preparation paid off beautifully.

Stanton's defense dominated from start to finish, forcing 26 turnovers and holding Pacific Union to just 25% shooting. The Lady Elks contested nearly every shot and disrupted passing lanes with the confidence of a team that had seen it all before.

Nicole Ros led the scoring with 17 points, including seven clutch free throws in the final minutes. Najharae Young controlled the paint with 11 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocks that erased any second-chance opportunities for the opposing team.

Isabel Betancor energized the squad off the bench, playing 29 minutes and contributing eight points, three steals, and three assists when momentum shifted.

After trailing 11-9 in the first quarter, the team showed the resilience they'd been building all season. They locked down defensively and outscored Pacific Union 16-12 in the final quarter to seal the win.

Why This Inspires

The Lady Elks chose the harder road from day one. While most new programs schedule easier games to build confidence, Stanton threw themselves against the toughest competition available, absorbing loss after loss to prepare for moments exactly like this.

Their coaches believed in a simple truth: growth doesn't come from easy wins. Now standing at 1-1 in conference play, the team has shown that strategic struggle can build something stronger than quick success ever could.

For every player who endured those 14 consecutive losses while trusting the process, Saturday's victory proved that patience and preparation eventually triumph.

The Lady Elks didn't just win their first game; they showed everyone watching what's possible when you refuse to take shortcuts.