Former Atascadero High standout Alyssa Palma had a career-high 35 points Wednesday to help Cuesta College continue its undefeated start to conference play. 

Palma had 21 points in the first half alone and nailed a game-high six 3-pointers, and she wasn’t the lone Cuesta star as the Cougars ran past Los Angeles Pierce 89-80 in a Western State Conference Northern Division women’s basketball game.

After being named state player of the month for December earlier in the day, sophomore forward Aria Johnson scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Cuesta (14-7, 2-0), scoring 19 of her points in the decisive second half.

The former Morro Bay high standout and Colorado State transfer led the Cougars with 14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game coming into the victory over the Brahmas (12-8, 0-2), who were led by Kameron Jones’s 22 points.

It was the second state athlete of the month honor for Cuesta, which also garnered the honor for wrestler Matthew Correa in October.