COC NOTEBOOK: COC READY TO DEFEND TITLE.

Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Conference titles, not gaudy preseason records, are the goal of the College of the Canyons women's basketball team. However, the Cougars are used to having both.

Neither appeared likely after the first month of this season. But with the rigorous nonconference schedule finished, COC is back on track to contend for a third consecutive Western State Conference Southern Division championship.

After losing four of their first seven games, the Cougars have won 10 of their last 12.

``Generally, we don't focus on the games early in the year,'' COC coach Greg Herrick said. ``So we weren't really concerned about winning those games; it was more developing as a team. But at one point we were 3-4. That's the latest we've had a losing record in a long time. We were kind of disappointed, but we looked at our schedule. This is the toughest schedule we've had.

``We're getting better, and against some tough teams. We generally (improve) as the season goes on. We'd rather be playing better in January.''

COC's only losses in the past 12 games were to Contra Costa, the top-ranked team in Northern California, and Butte. Both are ranked in the state poll. Each team that has beaten COC this season has been ranked in either the state or regional polls.

``Our schedule's just been brutal,'' Herrick said.

The Cougars are 13-6 after taking fifth place at last weekend's DeAnza tournament, where COC's lone loss was in the second round to eventual champion Butte.

COC returns to action Wednesday at home for the WSC South opener against Glendale. L.A. Valley, which defeated the Cougars 71-65 at a tournament last month, has the conference's best preseason record and is the biggest threat to ending COC's streak of consecutive division victories, which stands at 24.

``We're looking forward to the challenge,'' Herrick said.

--Dominating WSC charts: The Cougars are well represented among the conference statistical leaders.

Top performers include sophomore forward L'tanya Robnett, who ranks second in scoring at 16.9 points per game. Sophomore point guard Shakaria Jones is third in assists (4.9) and sophomore forward Ofolangi Mailangi is third in rebounding (10.4).

As a team, COC leads the WSC in offense with an average of 76.2 points per game.

--Not-so-sweet home: There hasn't been any home-court advantage for the Cougars men's basketball team. COC is doing well except when it plays at home, where it has lost four in a row.

COC (9-7) is just four victories away from winning the most games in three seasons, and division play hasn't even started. The Cougars also won championships at the Antelope Valley and Cuyamaca tournaments.