Preview: Mount San Jacinto Eagles at Palo Verde Pirates

BLYTHE, Calif. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Wednesday when the state-ranked Mount San Jacinto Eagles visit the struggling Palo Verde Pirates in a California community college women’s basketball game.

The Eagles (21-6), riding a nine-game winning streak, enter as heavy favorites against a Pirates squad (3-23) that has lost 10 of its last 11. The teams met just over a month ago, with Mount San Jacinto delivering a 105-37 rout at home on Jan. 17.

Mount San Jacinto’s offense has been dominant during its streak, averaging 92.4 points per game. The Eagles are coming off a 103-63 road victory over San Bernardino Valley on Feb. 11. The player to watch is guard Kohen Marshall, who is in the midst of a stellar run. She posted a triple-double of 30 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in that last outing, following a 27-point, 11-rebound, 8-assist performance on Feb. 4. Marshall has scored 20 or more points in three of her last four full games.

Palo Verde, conversely, has struggled to score, failing to reach 55 points in any of its last five games. Its most recent outing was a 52-67 loss at Desert on Feb. 14. The bright spot for the Pirates has been the consistent interior presence of Jennifer Hughes. Despite the losses, Hughes has been a rebounding force, pulling down a remarkable 26 rebounds to go with 10 points and 4 assists in the loss to Desert. She has recorded a double-double in five of her last six contests.

The Eagles’ high-pressure defense, which has held opponents to an average of 55.2 points during the winning streak, will likely focus on containing Hughes and challenging Palo Verde’s perimeter players. The Pirates will need an exceptional defensive effort and control of the tempo to keep the game competitive against a Mount San Jacinto team that appears to be peaking as the season concludes.

Tip-off is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, at Palo Verde College.