Bear Cubs fall to league opponent in Semifinals

Kylie Oden jumping center vs Delta
Kylie Oden jumping center vs Delta

SRJC 54, SJ Delta 62 

 

In their third round contest of the College of the Sequoias Tournament the Bear Cubs (4-1) squared off against a Big 8 foe, the Mustangs of San Joaquin Delta College (7-1) who are ranked #2 in the North. The Bear Cubs won the tipoff and Vai Thompson was fouled on a shot as she cut to the basket. She made the first free throw but missed the second. A minute later Kylie Oden hit a 3-pointer for a 4-0 lead. The Mustangs put in two 3-pointers before Brooke Santander sank one for the Bear Cubs at the midway point of the first quarter. The Mustangs scored two field goals to take a 10-7 lead at the 3:16 mark. Melyra Nicolis scored the last field goal of the quarter with 1:55 on the clock to make the score 9-10 when the buzzer sounded. 

The Mustangs scored 10 seconds into the second quarter off a Bear Cub turnover. Brooke Santander and Vai Thompson each hit a field goal for the Bear Cubs to briefly give their team the lead 13-12. But the Mustangs went on an 8-0 run to take a 20-13 lead with 3:40 left in the quarter. The Bear Cubs were able to finish the quarter with two free throws by Kerianne Noonan and a free throw and field goal by Vai Thompson to go into halftime down 18-20. 

The Mustangs scored first in the third quarter on a layup following a Bear Cub turnover. Niambi Saint Louis converted a 3-point play with 9:07 on the clock. The Mustangs missed their next shot attempt, but again converted an easy layup after intercepting a Bear Cub pass. On their next possession the Mustangs swished a 3-pointer to jump out in front 27-21 at the 7:52 mark. Consecutive field goals by Saint Louis and Oden cut the Bear Cubs' deficit to 25-27 with 7:07 on the clock. The Mustangs then went on another 8-0 run to increase their margin to 35-25 with 3:27 in the quarter. A free throw and a 3-pointer by Oden, two field goals by Thompson, and a 3-pointer by Brooke Santander helped the Bear Cubs end the quarter down by four points, 36-40. 

Four of the Mustangs' first five scoring baskets of the fourth quarter came on 3-pointers and with 5:54 left, their lead had widened to 54-40. The Bear Cubs responded with five straight baskets, including a 3-pointer by Oden to get to within 51-58 with 1:59 to play. Kerianne Noonan's 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining tightened the gap to 54-58. The Bear Cubs were forced to foul and the Mustangs finished by making four out of six free throws. Meanwhile the Bear Cubs were unable to score, losing by a score of 54-62. 

The Bear Cubs played good defense for most of the game, but hurt themselves by committing 31 turnovers and making only 8 out of 17 free throws (47%). 

Kylie Oden made three 3-pointers on her way to 12 points and led the team in rebounding with 8. Vai Thompson also scored 12 points and pulled down 6 missed shots. Brooke Santander's two 3-pointers helped her tally 10 points. Niambi Saint Louis, who sat most of the first half due to foul trouble, scored all 7 of her points in the second half. Kerianne Noonan didn't get off as many shots as usual and finished with 5 points. Zaina Depina and Melyra Nicolis added 4 points each. Santander and Saint Louis each grabbed 6 rebounds. Noonan passed for 9 assists and made 3 steals. 

The Bear Cubs next play Mt. San Antonio College, the #1 ranked team from the South, in the Third Place game Sunday.