The women's basketball season opened Friday, November 1 with a crossover challenge hosted by Grossmont College. The event lasted through Saturday, November 2 and hosted East L.A., Fullerton and Irvine Valley Colleges.

The first game on Friday, between Irvine Valley and East L.A., found Irvine on top 83-69. The second game of the evening was between Grossmont and Fullerton College.

Starters for Grossmont included Leanna Watson, Lesley Black, Mariyah Howard, Rian Fullmer and Hailey Dominguez.

#1 Watson certainly grabbed everybody's attention in Friday night's match-up. The 5'6 freshman out of El Cajon Valley High played an explosive and exciting game, scoring 20 points for the Griffins to open the 2019-20 season (sinking three 3 point goals). She is definitely Grossmont's leading Griffin in the point guard position. Watson is returning this season from a medical redshirt in the 2018-19 season and her coaches are excited to see what she can unlock for the team this year.

Friday's game finished 79-46 Fullerton.

In Grossmont's second game Saturday against Irvine Valley (105-50), Watson totaled 16 points (another three 3 pt FGs for the books!). Also putting points on the board was freshman Rian Fullmer.

#22 Fullmer scored 15 points in Saturday's game, going 5-8 in field goals (.625%). She is a 5'10 forward out of Westlake High in Utah.

Saturday's game also found the Grossmont Griffins tied 15-15 at the end of the first quarter. However the Irvine Lasers prevailed and clearly dominated the game from the second quarter on. The Griffins battled to a score of 50 but need to keep improving in the preseason. Coach Caires purposely schedules a tough pre-season to prepare her squad for the upcoming competitive season.

The Griffin women head to Riverside City College Thursday-Saturday, November 7-9 for Riverside City College's annual tournament. Grossmont women's basketball hosts its own tournament December 17-19, 2019.

Follow all the basketball action this season on social media @gcghouse!