SRJC 64, Cosumnes River College 58 in OT
In their first 5:30 pm home game of the season, the Bear Cubs (7-15, 2-6) hosted the Hawks (6-15, 2-6) of Cosumnes River College. The Bear Cubs won the tipoff and 11 seconds later Sadie Irvine swished a 3-pointer. The Hawks then made three field goals in a row before La Donna Saint Louis added two free throws at the 7:58 mark, and Hayley Louzao made one of two 84 seconds afterward to knot the score at 6. The Hawks put in a field goal and a 3-pointer for an 11-6 lead with 4:47 left. Tiffany Salinas finally sank a field goal for the Bear Cubs with 4:32 on the clock and then made one of two free throws two possessions later. A basket each by Jenny Eggers and Ashley Hart gave the Bear Cubs a 13-11 lead. The Hawks tied the score with 41 seconds remaining, and Zaina Depina finished the scoring with one of two free throws, to end the period in front 14-13.
La Donna Saint Louis scored first in the second quarter on a layup after intercepting a pass and driving the length of the court. On their time down Destiny Grayer sank a 3-pointer from straight away. Two trips later Saint Louis hit a 6-footer for a 21-13 advantage after three minutes of play. The Hawks recorded their first points of the quarter with a field goal at the 6:23 mark. Both teams went scoreless until Jenny Eggers was on the scoring end of a fast break with 2:57 left. Tiffany Salinas scored their final points of the period on a post move their next time on offense for a 25-15 lead. The Hawks scored three more points to end the quarter behind 18-25.
The Bear Cubs started the second half with the ball and 17 seconds later Tiffany Salinas scored from the low post. On their next possession Zaina Depina drove through traffic and banked in the layup. The Hawks answered with a field goal. After another field goal each by Depina and Ashley Hart and two out of 4 free throws by Saint Louis, the Bear Cubs had built up a 35-24 lead by the middle of the quarter. The Hawks sank a shot from the wing with 4:18 on the clock and went nearly three minutes without scoring again. After a Sadie Irvine basket, the Hawks made two unanswered field goals in a row to get to 30-37. In the final 37 seconds, Tiffany Salinas sank two free throws and La Donna Saint Louis finished a drive to increase the lead to 41-30. The Hawks added a single free throw to make their deficit 31-41 at the end of the quarter.
The Bear Cubs had the ball first in the fourth quarter and La Donna Saint Louis sank a baseline shot. The Hawks scored the next six points. Jenny Eggers made the Bear Cubs' final field goal of the period with 6:15 on the clock for a 45-37 lead. About a minute later Tiffany Salinas' two free throws stretched the margin to 10 points. Another minute later Sadie Irvine's two free throws put them ahead 49-38 with 4:13 left. Daija Ward scored three straight baskets on layups past defenders. Gina Ingravallo's successful drive with 1:03 remaining pulled them within three at 46-49. Forty seconds later, Ward again sank a layup. The Bear Cubs, ahead by a single point, inbounded with 23 seconds to go and the shot clock turned off. Irvine was fouled with 15 seconds left. She missed the first free throw but made the second. The Hawks called a timeout and advanced the ball to the front court. After inbounding, their shot for the tie missed and Salinas grabbed the rebound. She was immediately fouled. She made the first free throw for a 51-48 lead. She missed the second but hustled after the rebound. She grabbed it, took a couple of dribbles, and passed toward Jenny Eggers. The Hawks stepped in front of the pass and Eggers couldn't keep from making contact. Ingravallo received two free throws with six seconds left. She made the first to get to 49-51. She missed the second on purpose and the Bear Cubs lost control of the rebound out of bounds. The Hawks got the ball to Ingravallo for a 3-point shot. One of the officials whistled Zaina Depina for a foul with one tick on the clock. Ingravallo went to the line to shoot three. She made the first two to tie the game. Before she could shoot the possible go-ahead free throw, a teammate moved away from the lane, resulting in a violation. The Bear Cubs couldn't make a desperation shot as the buzzer sounded sending the game into overtime.
Jasmine Chapman swished a shot from the wing on the Hawks' first possession. The Bear Cubs missed their first two shot attempts and finally tied the score on Destiny Grayer's two free throws with 3:23 on the clock. Chapman swished another shot from the wing 39 seconds later for a 55-53 lead. The Bear Cubs scored the next 7 points on a jumper by Sadie Irvine, a layup by La Donna Saint Louis, and a 3-point play by Hayley Louzao to put them in front 60-55 with 1:15 remaining. The Hawks hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds to go to get within two. Destiny Grayer caught the inbounds pass and was fouled. She made the first but missed the second, putting the score at 61-58. The Hawks next shot was off target and Grayer corralled the rebound then was fouled. She missed the first but made the second. The Hawks tried one more shot, but it, too, was off line and Madison Barsuglia pulled in the rebound then was fouled with 3 seconds to play. She made both free throws to help secure the 64-58 victory.
The Bear Cubs were outscored in 20-10 in the fourth quarter, as they made only 2 out of 16 shots (12.5%). Fortunately, they made 6 out of 8 free throws in the quarter to get to overtime, during which they made 7 out of 13 to win by 6 points. For the game, they made 22 out of 38 (58%) while the Hawks put in 10 out of 23 (43%).
Ingravallo and Ward both scored 16 points to lead all scorers.
La Donna Saint Louis led the Bear Cubs with 14 points and three steals. Tiffany Salinas, who only made 3 out of 11 shots, but sank 6 out of 9 crucial free throws, recorded her sixth double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Sadie Irvine finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Destiny Grayer contributed 7 points, Jenny Eggers 6, Zaina Depina 5, Hayley Louzao and Ashley Hart 4 each, and Madison Barsuglia 2.
Bear Cubs are home next Tuesday at 5:30 against Modesto. It will be Coaches vs Cancer night, part of the proceeds will go to The American Cancer Society.