Hurst’s return just like old times

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 18, 2026

Zanna Hurst shoots during Saturday's game in San Marcos. / Vanilla Gorilla

2026 EAST COUNTY ALUMNI

EastCountySports.com staff report

SAN MARCOS — For Zanna Hurst, the trip back into San Diego County on Saturday was a homecoming, of sorts, for the former Mount Miguel Matadors standout, and once again, she made sure it was memorable.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills sophomore guard and San Diego native scored a team-high 17 points, knocking down four three-pointers, as the Toros upset host Cal State San Marcos, 82-76, on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.

Hurst led five Toros in double figures and set the tone from the opening possession in a road win that continued CSUDH’s recent momentum.

Hurst opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game with a three-pointer, then pushed the Toros ahead 7-2 with another deep ball four minutes later.

When Cal State San Marcos trimmed the deficit to 13-11 late in the first quarter, Hurst answered again, burying her third triple before Camryn Washington capped the period with a layup at the buzzer to give Dominguez Hills an 18-12 lead.

The second quarter followed a familiar script.

Hurst drilled another three to open the stanza, extending the Toro lead to a game-high 21-12. Each time the Cougars threatened, Hurst helped steady the offense. After a CSUSM run pulled the hosts within two, Hurst connected from long range once more at the 6:10 mark, helping keep the Toros in front during a back-and-forth stretch that eventually saw San Marcos carry a slim 34-31 lead into halftime.

As the game tightened in the second half, Hurst’s impact went beyond the box score.

Dominguez Hills finally erased the deficit when Tiara Jones finished a layup to tie the game at 49 midway through the third quarter. The Toros seized control moments later, closing the period on a run to take a 57-53 advantage into the fourth.

The final quarter featured multiple ties, including a 69-69 deadlock with four minutes remaining.

Down the stretch, Dominguez Hills executed, forcing turnovers and converting at the free-throw line. Hurst helped seal the outcome, scoring late from the stripe as the Toros closed out the 82-76 victory.

Hurst finished the afternoon playing all 40 minutes, shooting 4-of-11 from three-point range, while adding three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and committing zero turnovers.

It was the poised, high-usage performance that East County basketball fans saw regularly during her prep career at Mount Miguel, where she eclipsed 1,000 career points and cemented her place among the program’s all-time greats.

The daughter of longtime Mount Miguel basketball coach Jimmy Hurst, Zanna grew up immersed in the game and thrived under legendary Matadors coach Robbie Sandoval.

Now, she is carving out her own identity at the collegiate level, helping Dominguez Hills climb to eighth place in the CCAA standings with a 4-6 conference record.

For Hurst, returning to San Diego County continues to bring out her best. For the Toros, her steady hand and timely shooting are becoming a reliable formula for success as her sophomore season moves forward.