SRJC 49, Fresno City College 78
In their second round game of the Merced College Tournament, the Bear Cubs ran into a quick, aggressive, full-court pressing Fresno City College Rams team. Alicia Mehtlan scored the first basket of the game at the 19:01 mark. The Rams scored the next four points, then the Bear Cubs answered back with two straight field goals. The Rams responded with 8 points of their own to take a 12-6 lead at the 14:23 mark. Brooke Santander hit a 3-pointer on the Bear Cubs' next possession, but the Rams went on a 15-7 run to build a 27-16 advantage with 7 minutes left in the half. Against the Rams' pressure defense the Bear Cubs could only convert on 3 out of their final 14 shot attempts. Meanwhile Fresno got hot, including four 3-pointers. The Rams went into the locker room at halftime with a 46-28 lead.
The Rams scored the first 4 points of the second half. Alicia Mehtlan converted a 3-point play on the Bear Cubs' third possession of the half, making the score 31-50. The Bear Cubs couldn't make much of a dent in the Rams' lead. At the midway point of the second half, the Bear Cubs were behind 40-63. When Alicia Mehtlan sank the Bear Cubs' final basket with 4:42 still remaining in the game, their deficit was still 20 points, 49-69. The Rams added 9 more points to go on to win the game 78-49.
The Bear Cubs made 33% of their shots (19 out of 58), while the Rams were much more efficient, hitting on 52% of their shots (29 out of 56). The Bear Cubs committed 31 turnovers, but forced the Rams into turning the ball over 22 times. Unfortunately, the Bear Cubs weren't able to capitalize on the additional scoring opportunities as well as their opponents were able to do so.
Alicia Mehtlan and Brooke Santander led the Bear Cubs in scoring with 19 and 15 points, respectively. Taylor Graham added 4 points, Vai Thompson, Sarah Arteseros, Amber Hart, Niambi Saint Louis, and Brittney Rachuy 2 each, and Jenna Dunbar 1. Alicia Mehtlan was the leading rebounder with 6. Jenna Dunbar and Amber Hart both had 2 steals and 3 assists.