SRJC 65, Chabot College 91
The Bear Cubs (2-2) battled their toughest foe of the season so far in the Gladiators of Chabot College (5-0) in Hayward. The Gladiators scored the first field goal of the game after 70 seconds of play. Lani Lincoln made two baskets in a row, the first a 3-pointer, before the Gladiators converted a 3-point play. Lizbeth Zavala's 3-pointer made the score 8-7 with 4:50 on the clock. After one field goal each by Lani Lincoln, Kassi Agapoff, and Hanna Morris the score was 14-13 with 2:32 left. During the remainder of the quarter the Bear Cubs scored five more points on a 3-pointer by Lincoln and two free throws by Amaya Macandog, while the home team made three more field goals to tie the score at 19.
Amaya Macandog scored the first field goal of the second quarter when she cut across the key, caught the pass from Lani Lincoln, and laid the ball in. The next time down Kierra Johnson pulled down an offensive rebound and scored the putback. The Gladiators scored a field goal, and then Trinity Hawkins dropped in a 3-footer on a baseline inbounds play. The Gladiators scored the next five points on a field goal and a 3-pointer. Lincoln's 10-footer and Johnson's 15-footer with 5:34 on the clock made the Bear Cubs' lead 29-27. During the next three minutes the Bear Cubs only got off two shots, which both missed, as they turned the ball over repeatedly. The Gladiators took advantage and scored nine unanswered points. Kierra Johnson put up a shot from three feet beyond the arc and swished the 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining. The Gladiators capitalized on Bear Cubs' mistakes on both offense and defense and again went on a 9-0 run to sprint out to a 45-32 halftime lead.
The Bear Cubs started the third quarter with a 6-0 run on one basket by Kierra Johnson and two in a row by Hanna Morris. After the Gladiators sank a 5-footer, Kierra Johnson put back her own miss. The next time down she put back a teammate's miss with 6:24 on the clock to cut their deficit to 42-51. After Trinity Hawkins' field goal nearly two minutes later the score was 44-55. The Gladiators scored 11 straight points before Hanna Morris stepped out and swished a 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining. The Gladiators dropped in a 3-pointer and Hawkins made a 10-footer with 1:28 left. The Gladiators made one more 3-pointer to increase their lead to 72-49 by the end of the quarter.
The Gladiators hit a 3-pointer and a field goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Hanna Morris made one of two free throws with 8:37 on the clock, and then the Gladiators scored inside. Kierra Johnson scored a field goal about a minute later. The Gladiators made three free throws and a field goal before Hanna Morris and Lizbeth Zavala scored consecutive field goals. The Gladiators answered with a 3-pointer and a field goal. Amaya Macandog made one free throw with 2:08 left, then so did Morris 18 seconds later. The Gladiators scored their final two points on a pair of free throws with 1:30 to go. The Bear Cubs finished the game with Kassi Agapoff's field goal, Morris' layup, and Macandog's 3-pointer to make the final score 65-91.
The Gladiators were more athletic and quicker than the Bear Cubs. Their full court trapping press caused the Bear Cubs to turn the ball over, resulting in easy baskets going their way. The Bear Cubs committed 31 turnovers while the Gladiators only made 10. Adorah Buggs led the Gladiators in scoring with 29 points, while Nyah Willis contributed 25 and Zakiya Mahoney 17.
Kierra Johnson, who only was on the floor for 18 minutes due to foul trouble, still had her fourth double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Hanna Morris scored a season-high 15 points. Lani Lincoln made two 3-pointers and finished with 12 points. Amaya Macandog added 8 points, Trinity Hawkins 6, Lizbeth Zavala 5, and Kassi Agapoff 4. Lani Lincoln passed for 4 assists and made 3 steals.