Women's Basketball - Bear Cubs get first win against Merritt 77-60

2017-2018 Team Picture

SRJC 77, Merritt 60

In the second round of the Merced College Tournament the Bear Cubs were matched against the T-Birds of Oakland's Merritt College. Jenny Eggers scored the Bear Cubs' first four points on a field goal and two free throws, then picked up a foul after less than two minutes of play. The player she fouled made both free throws. Britta Irvine's 3-pointer put the Bear Cubs ahead 7-3. Mireya Lopez made three consecutive shots, the third a 3-pointer, to increase the margin to 14-5 at the 5:30 mark. The T-Birds sank their first field goal 12 seconds later. The Bear Cubs added five free throws and baskets by Madeline Strom and Angel Bernardi to lengthen their lead to 23-14 by the end of the quarter.

The Bear Cubs were unable to get by the T-Birds' full court pressure for the first three minutes of the second period. The T-Birds capitalized on the Bear Cubs' mistakes and scored 11 unanswered points. Britta Irvine finally scored the Bear Cubs' first points on a drive with 5:59 on the clock to tie the score at 25 apiece. Two free throws by Madeline Strom and a field goal by Angel Bernardi were countered by two Merritt field goals to tie the contest at 29 with 2:24 left. Then Kylie Oden's 3-pointer started a 9-0 Bear Cub run, during which Oden accounted for seven of the points, to build the lead back up to 38-29 going into halftime.

Jenny Eggers scored two field goals to start the third period, and then committed her fourth foul. Kylie Oden added two free throws before the T-Birds scored their first basket. The Bear Cubs had trouble sinking shots but were successful at the free throw line to maintain a 47-39 lead before Oden made the Bear Cubs' third and final field goal of the period at the 3:30 mark. Both teams added two free throws each during the remainder of the period, bringing the score to 51-41.

Jenny Eggers scored the Bear Cubs' first two field goals of the fourth quarter. Then the T-Birds again took advantage of the Bear Cubs' offensive struggles and cut their deficit to 55-60 with 5:18 on the clock. Destiny Grayer drained a 10-footer 24 seconds later. Then Kylie Oden drew a shooting foul their next time down and sank both free throws. Jenny Eggers made one free throw with 3:45 remaining for a 65-55 lead, but she fouled out 25 seconds later. The T-Birds scored their final point of the contest on one of two free throws with 2:09 left and them behind 60-69. During the remaining two plus minutes, Oden made a bucket before fouling out, and Mireya Lopez made two free throws and two field goals, including a 3-point play with 23 seconds to go to give the Bear Cubs a 77-60 win.

Both teams were whistled for numerous fouls—the Bear Cubs 25 and the T-Birds 30. The Bear Cubs were 28 for 45 (62%) from the line, while their opponents made 22 out of 38 (58%).

Kylie Oden led all scorers with 21 points, including 10 out of 12 from the free throw line. Mireya Lopez made five baskets, one a 3-pointer, and 5 free throws for 16 points. Jenny Eggers, despite sitting out a lot in foul trouble, tallied 13 points. Angel Bernardi added 8 points, Madeline Strom 7, Britta Irvine 6, Destiny Grayer 4, and Cammie Barsuglia 2. Irvine was the top rebounder with 10, and Lopez pulled down 8. Bernardi led in assists with 4, and Oden in blocks with 3.