Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The CR players share a laugh while watching the Redwoods men take on Shasta before their game on Saturday.

The College of the Redwoods women’s basketball team won its conference opener on Saturday, getting the better of Shasta 61-49 at Lumberjack Arena.

With standout sophomore Rachel Valdez sidelined with a knee injury and doubtful to return this season, a number of players picked up the slack.

Most notably Kathryce Danzuka, who scored a team-high 25 points in the win.

“She shot the ball really well and definitely stepped up and had some shots when we needed them,” head coach Jain Tuey said of the Warm Springs, Oregon, native.

With the win, the Corsairs improved to 1-0 in the GVC and 6-12 overall.

“I thought we actually played really well collectively,” Tuey said. “It really took everyone on the team to get the win today.”

Tuey and her players focused on playing strong defense and keeping their intensity up for the entire game and the coach was happy with how her players responded.

Former Fortuna Husky Kendall Stewart also stepped up in Valdez’s absence and finished with 10 points, while Kallie Schoenbachler did a good job rebounding the ball and “made her presence felt down low,” according to her coach.

The game was switched to the Cal Poly Humboldt arena at the last minute because of a power outage at CR.

Next up, the CR women will host Butte College next Saturday at 3 p.m.